Ryan S-C


The Ryan S-C was an American three-seat cabin monoplane designed and built by the Ryan Aeronautical Company. At least one was impressed into service with the United States Army Air Forces as the L-10.

Development

The Ryan S-C was a low-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear, designed to be an up-market version of the Ryan S-T trainer. The prototype first flew in 1937, and had a nose-mounted 150 hp Menasco inline piston engine. Production aircraft were fitted with a 145 hp Warner Super Scarab radial engine. With the company's involvement in producing trainer aircraft for the United States military, the S-C was not seriously marketed, and only 11 complete SCs were built, all delivered in 1938; two more were later assembled from parts. At least one example – probably as many as five, s/n 202, 203, 207, 211 and 212 – were impressed into service with the Civil Air Patrol, auxiliary of the United States Army Air Forces for anti-submarine patrol and warfare duties on the East coast of the US, and was designated the L-10. At the start of the 21st Century, four examples were still airworthy in the United States.
According to Cassagneres, "The spar did not run as one unit throughout the span. The metal 'monocoque spar,' as it was sometimes termed, was developed by Ryan and patented by him. Actually, the spar embodied the full forward third portion of the wing. This leading edge area was assembled as a single unit with major stresses, carried by the outer skin. It was further stiffened by nose ribs and single vertical webs located about one third of the chord. Thus the entire forward portion of the wing formed a light but strong tapered box spar. A single perforated dural belly flap of split type, beneath the wing at a point about one-third back from the leading edge, was a new approach to the landing problem."

Variants

;S-C later S-C-M
;S-C-W
;L-10
;Later Modifications

Operators

  • United States Army Air Forces

    Specifications (S-C-W)