Canadian Warplanes 2: Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing

(RCAF Photo)

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing, RCAF Reg. G-CYXJ, coded G.

The Pitcairn Mailwing family was a series of American mail carrier and three-seat sport utility biplane aircraft produced from 1927 to 1931. The Pitcairn Mailwings were developed to carry air mail for the U.S. Postal Service. Of simple and robust construction, they had relatively benign flying characteristics.

They were constructed using chrome-moly steel tube and square-section spruce spars with spruce and plywood built-up ribs. The fuselage was faired using wooden formers and covered with fabric. The tail sections were built up from steel tube and fabric-covered. The Pitcairn Mailwing had a ground-adjustable fin and in-flight adjustable tailplane. The undercarriage was of outrigger type with Oleo-Spring shock absorbers and disc brakes on the mainwheels. All versions looked very similar and changes were minor, with several fuselage extensions being the most obvious.

The mail was carried in a fireproof metal-lined compartment forward of the pilot's cockpit. The Mailwings were flown extensively by the U.S. Air Mail service from 1927 until the end of dedicated Air-Mail routes. Pitcairn also built the same aircraft in sport versions for private use. These aircraft had the mail compartment removed, and a side-by-side two-seat cockpit was fitted. (Wikipedia)

(RCAF Photo)

Here is the same Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing, RCAF Reg. No. G-CYXJ, at the Leaside Aerodrome which at the time was being operated by the Toronto Flying Club.  The Toronto Flying Club closed the aerodrome in 1931.  The Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing was taken on strength with the RCAF on 3 April 1921. It suffered Cat B damage during an accident on 24 July, 1931.  The aircraft was officially struck off strength on 20 January 1932.  (Chris Charland)

G-CYXJ was initially picked up at the factory by S/L Tuddy Tudhope in March 1928. It was flown by the Station Flight, Camp Borden, for air mail trials. G-CYXJ was operated by S/L Tudhope on route surveys in Quebec in 1928, and Alberta and BC in 1930. The aircraft struck poles on takeoff from St. Hubert on 5 May 1928, but was repaired. It was ferried by S/L Tudhope to western Canada from 14 May 1929, via South Bend, Indiana, Lacrosse, Wisconsin, and Winnipeg, Manitoba. G-CYXJ was back at Ottawa by 8 June 1929. It suffered Category B damage on 24 July 1931.

(Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3580137)

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing, G-CYXJ.