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The Museum's Ryan M-1 on display in the Great Gallery (Photo by Heath Moffatt) Image
Location: Great Gallery
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Aircraft Details

  • Manufacturer: 
    Ryan Aeronautical Company
    Model: 
    M-1
    Year: 
    1926
    Power Plant: 
    One Hispano-Suiza 150 h.p. engine
    Registration: 
    N46853
    Serial Number: 
    HN-1
    Span: 
    36ft
    Length: 
    24ft
    Wing Area: 
    228ft²
    Empty Weight: 
    1,550lbs
    Gross Weight: 
    2,700lbs
    Maximum Speed: 
    125mph
    Cruise Speed: 
    110mph
    Range: 
    400miles

Ryan M-1

The Ryan M-1, dubbed "the plane that pays a profit," was America's first production civil monoplane and, starting on September 15, 1926, was the first commercial plane to fly with Pacific Air Transport (PAT) along the West Coast. PAT's six M-1s linked Seattle, Portland, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. The cost was high -- five of PAT's original M-1s crashed the first year.

The Museum's M-1 is thought to be the first Ryan airframe built. It was abandoned in 1932 after it overturned during an emergency landing in Paso Robles, California. Recovered in 1980, it was restored by Ty Sundstrom.

Help us preserve this historic artifact for future generations. Click here to find out about the Museum's Adopt-A-Plane program.