KINNER "SPORTSTER" - Plane + Pilot

1932

Plane & Pilot

Tuesday, February 10, 2009 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By: Omar Filipović

Key Takeaways:

Kinner Airplane and Motor Corp. was renowned for its radial engines, which powered many World War II primary trainers, and also ventured into designing its own aircraft.
Introduced in 1932, Kinner's primary aircraft was the Sportster series, a two-seat, low-wing taildragger typically powered by a 100-hp Kinner radial engine and featuring mixed construction.
The Sportster boasted performance metrics including a top speed of 104 mph, a cruise speed of 90 mph, and a range of 340 miles.
A cabin version of the aircraft, named the Playboy, was also produced, equipped with a more powerful 160-hp Kinner engine and distinctive wire-braced wings.

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Kinner Airplane and Motor Corp. is better-known for radial engines used in many World War II primary trainers, including the Meyers OTW and the Ryan PT- 22, but Kinner also introduced an airplane of its own design in 1932. As might be expected, the side-by-side two-seat Sportster series of low wing taildraggers was powered by 100-hp Kinner five-cylinder radial engines. Some of the Sportsters that are still active have opted for the 125-hp Kinner. The aircraft employed a mixed construction with the conventional fabric-covered wooden wings and fabric-covered steel-tube fuselage combination. Another version, named the Playboy, was a cabin model powered by a 160-hp Kinner. It featured wire-braced rather than strut-braced wings; otherwise, construction was essentially the same.