Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing
Country	USA
Role	Mail Carrier and Sport
First flight	1927
Built	106

The Pitcairn Mailwings were developed by Pitcairn to carry air mail for the U.S. Postal Service. Of simple and robust construction, they also 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, features not often seen in other aircraft.

Source: Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing on Wikipedia

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing
Photographers	John Heck, Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	National Air & Space Museum, Washington DC
Photos	69

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 01

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 02

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 03

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 04

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 05

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 06

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 07

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 08

Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing 09

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General Characteristics and Role

The Pitcairn PA-5 Mailwing was a classic single-engine biplane designed and built by Pitcairn Aircraft Company in the late 1920s. Its primary role was, as its name suggests, to serve as a fast and reliable aircraft for the U.S. Airmail service. The PA-5 was an improvement on earlier Pitcairn models and was part of a crucial era in American aviation where private contractors, like Harold Pitcairn’s Eastern Air Transport (later part of Eastern Air Lines), took over the mail routes from the government. The PA-5 was designed with a single open cockpit for the pilot, and a large sealed compartment ahead of the cockpit dedicated entirely to carrying mail, prioritizing speed and durability over passenger capacity.

Property	Typical Value (PA-5)
Type	Mail and Transport Biplane
National Origin	United States
Manufacturer	Pitcairn Aircraft Company
Year Built	1927–1928
Crew	1 (Pilot)
Capacity	Mail payload (approx. 227 kg / 500 lb)
Length	7.24 m (23 ft 9 in)
Wingspan	9.91 m (32 ft 6 in)

Powerplant and Construction

Engine: 1 x Wright J-5 Whirlwind 9-cylinder, air-cooled radial engine.
Power Output: 220 hp (164 kW).
Construction: Typical of its era, featuring a welded steel tube fuselage and wooden wings, all covered in fabric.
Cruising Speed: 169 km/h (105 mph).
Maximum Speed: 203 km/h (126 mph).
Range: 750 km (466 mi).
Key Feature: The use of the reliable Wright J-5 engine, which was also used on Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis, contributed significantly to the Mailwing’s reputation for reliability on scheduled routes.

Service History and Legacy

Mail Routes: Pitcairn Mailwings flew the demanding CAM-19 (Contract Air Mail) route between New York City and Atlanta, often covering the distance faster than ground transport.
Evolution: The PA-5 was quickly followed by improved versions, including the PA-6 and PA-7, which incorporated lessons learned from the punishing, round-the-clock airmail schedules.
Pilot History: The Mailwings were flown by several future aviation legends, including Amelia Earhart, who owned a Pitcairn PA-5.
Legacy: The Pitcairn Mailwing series is one of the most important aircraft of the airmail contracting era, directly contributing to the establishment of the modern commercial airline industry in the United States.