N.A.T-6s - Sky Writing Corp. of America on 1949

[Fernando Estanislau]

Google/Life images are bringing us some real gems. Take a look on these images of the Skywriters on 1949. Does anybody know the colors of these aircraft?

http://images.google.com.br/images?gbv= ... rce%3Alife

Could only figure out two registration codes (NC69569 and NR66189), nothing more, even on web...

Best regards.

[Warbird Kid]

Could these be the Geico Skytypers of today?
http://www.geicoskytypers.com/

[wacoykc]

Yes...they are the Geico Skytypers of today. The original photos were when owned and flown by Andy Stinis of New York The airplanes were painted red/white/blue. My families 1930 Waco CRG was owned by Andy Stinis from about 1935-1950 and was one of his original skywriters and his personal mount.

[bdk]

The Skytypers on the west coast are still working hard, but they use blue Grumman Tigers now.

http://www.skytypers.com/

[stumac]

wacoykc,
That is interesting that you own Andy Stinnis's old Waco. My flight instructor from Long Island (Tom Murphy) was very close with Andy and they did skywriting together before the war. Once the war broke out they both became civilian flight instructors teaching military cadets. After the war ended they went back to skywriting which eventually evolved into skytyping. Tom Murphy had loads of pictures of the skywriting days. The first airplane they were using was an SE5A. I am not sure of all the airplanes they had but the ones I know of are: Waco taperwing, travelair and SE5A. After the war they bought all the SNJ-2's and they also were doing skywriting with a Douglas SBD (at high altitude). Tom told me that when they came up with the idea of skytyping they origionally tried it using nine airplanes. They then tried using seven airplanes and eventually perfected it using five airplanes (just like they do today). Andy and Tom were the origional pepsi skywriters and the travelair that is being used today for pepsi skywriting is the same airplane they owned all those years ago.
I bet you if you look in the logbooks for your Waco you will see Tom's name all over the place. You will never forget his handwriting (very graceful and fluint).

[wacoykc]

I would love to meet Tom Murphy and see any photos he has of our Waco CRG. It basically flew in a couple different configurations during its time owned by Stinis. He is the one who modified it with a super-charged Wright R760-E2 and the built-up turtledeck with enclosed rear cockpit for high altitude work.

[stumac]

Tom passed away about nine years ago. I think most of his stuff went to a guy named Jim McMahon up in Columbia County, NY. I bet you can get some photos from Andy Stinis's son Greg or his grandson Stephen. They are still running the Skytypers here on the west coast. Maybe they have some photos or somthing.
When you get a chance check your logbooks for Tom's signature.

[stumac]

All the skytyper airplanes in those pictures are not SNJ-2's. Tom did tell me that they got the SNJ-2's later on. The SNJ-2 is a better airplane then the later T-6's (for Skytyping) because it has 190 gallons of gas and thus longer endurance. Tom told me that the SNJ-2's were like brand new (very low time) when they got them. Apperently the cadets weren't allowed to fly them because they would forget to lower the gear, the SNJ-2 with it's externel fuel sump on the bottom of the center section would grind thru and catch fire immediatly. Therefore the SNJ-2 were kind of just reserved for the higher ranking aviators as transportation and weren't really used for training. The later T-6's don't have that external fuel sump and won't catch on fire while skidding on a runway when some cadet forgets to lower the gear.
Those are great pictures. Does anyone know who put them on the internet?

[wacoykc]

Any idea how to contact Greg Stinis???

[bdk]

Drop by his hangar at Chino Airport?

CORPORATE OFFICE
West Coast Skytypers
Skytypers, Inc.
10650 San Sicily Street
Las Vegas Nevada 89141
Tel: 1-888-SKYTYPE
Fax: 760-295-3306
Email: sales@skytypers.com

[wacoykc]

Thanks for the info! Never been to Chino....always wanted to but never had a chance!

[bdk]

It's a short drive from Ohio, maybe 3 days?

[wacoykc]

Speaking of Andy Stinis and our Waco CRG that he owned, I just got these sent to me today. This is how the airplane looked when we first got it in 1962. The damage was done around 1952-53.







And this is the condition we got it in....

[bdk]

Any idea how to contact Greg Stinis???

PM sent with contact info for his son Steve. I'm sure they would love to get some photos of their old aircraft!

[Keith Wood]

Any idea how to contact Greg Stinis???

PM sent with contact info for his son Steve. I'm sure they would love to get some photos of their old aircraft!

Guys,
If anyone haves any photos or info on the Skywriting Corp of America's SBD, I would love to talk to you. My research indicates that this airplane may be the SBD that went to Mexico and now is being flown by ME here in the CAF.
Keith Wood
CAF Dixie Wing
Peachtree City, GA