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The Museum's Swallow Commercial on display in the Great Gallery Image
Location: Great Gallery
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Aircraft Details

  • Manufacturer: 
    Swallow Aircraft Corp.
    Model: 
    Commercial
    Year: 
    1927
    Power Plant: 
    One Curtiss OX-5, 90 h.p. engine (currently has Continental W 670 6N, 220 h.p.)
    Registration: 
    N6070
    Serial Number: 
    968
    Span: 
    33ft
    Length: 
    24ft
    Height: 
    9ft
    Wing Area: 
    300ft²
    Empty Weight: 
    1,447lbs
    Gross Weight: 
    2,200lbs
    Maximum Speed: 
    100mph
    Cruise Speed: 
    85mph
    Range: 
    450miles
Swallow Commercial Image
Swallow Commercial Image

Swallow Commercial

In 1925, the Post Office began to make contracts with private operators to carry air mail. One route, from Pasco, Washington, to Elko, Nevada, called CAM 5 (Contract Air Mail route number 5), was awarded to Walter T. Varney. Varney acquired six new Swallows for the dangerous route over the mountains and desert. On April 6, 1926, 2,500 residents of Pasco came to see pilot Leon Cuddeback and the first mail-laden Swallow take off for Elko via Boise, Idaho. Varney found that the Swallows were underpowered and larger Wright J-4 engines were installed quickly thereafter. Later, Varney Air Lines and other companies, including Boeing Air Transport, merged to become United Air Lines.

The Museum's example is a 1928 Swallow Commercial or "OX-5 Swallow" restored to look like a Varney Swallow Mail Plane. The plane was originally powered by a Curtiss OX-5, 90-horsepower engine but currently has a Continental W 670 6N 220-horsepower power plant. In 1976, it was flown by Buck Hilbert for United Airlines' fiftieth anniversary.