174
ST-A Special
NC17369
July 1937
681
Unknown
Menasco C-4S 150 HP SN 277, D4-87 SN 4310, SN 4329
Hartzell D-718 SN 16450
Stored Under Rebuilt
Serial Number
Model
Registration
Date of Manufacturing
ATC
Price (USD)
Engine
Propeller
Current Status
History
The airplane was sold new to Central Aircraft Sales Company, a Ryan dealer, who in turn sold it to customer Richard Card. The sale took place on July 26th, 1937. The aircraft was equipped with a full two place canopy.
In April 1939 it was sold to O.J. Whitney, a Ryan dealer who sold it on October 13th, 1939 to George or Richard Armistead. On November 12th 1940 it was involved in an accident but no details are available.
Ralph Romaine of the EDO corporation at College Point, Long Island, New York, flew the airplane from February 25th, 1941 to March 5th, 1941 while working in the CPTP program as an instructor at the airport in Spokane, Washington.
The plane has been through a series of owners, below are listed some of the known dates and names.
There is a rumour that one of the owners was Jean Guther, a stunt pilot from Philadelphia, he apparently also put on many air-shows with an ST named “Shady Lady” which may have been NC 18904 (SN 188)
William P. Tidmore purchased the aircraft around 1955. He started the long process of rebuilding it but never completed the project. He died in an aircraft accident in 1970, while instructing in a Piper Cherokee.
The aircraft ended up in storage, and ownership transferred to Mrs. Agnes C. Tidmore, and then to Mr. Tidmore`s son, Argie Tidmore. It is still owned by Mr Tidmore, and located on his private airfield, 7PN0, RWY 08/26 in Minersville, Pennsylvania. This Ryan is unique, as the Tidmore family has continuously owned it for more than 45 years. In 2014 the aircraft was sent to Barnstormers in Peachtree Georgia for restoration to flying condition. Initially the aircraft was simply repainted, then the decision was taken to re-skin and polish the fuselage, and at this time the fuselage has been re-skinned and the aircraft is being re-assembled, and should be flying again mid-2016.
Ownership History
- Central Aircraft sales, Chicago, Illinois;
- Richard Card, Highland Park, Illinois;
- Muncie Aviation Corp. Muncie, Indiana;
- O.J. Whitney, inc. Long Island, New York;
- George S. Armistead, Glendale, California;
- Nathan J. Rounds, Beverly Hills, California;
- Russell J. Alley, Santa Monica, California;
- Wallace Air Service, Spokane, Washington;
- Webb’s Flying Service, (Ray Crowder, A.A. Knowles, Webber J. Appel) Boise, Idaho;
- Boise Aviation, (same owners as above) Boise, Idaho;
- Jack and Frank Medlin, Caldwell, Idaho;
- D.C. Reynolds, Boise, Idaho;
- Aircraft Service Co., Boise, Idaho;
- James R. Mclain, Pittsburgh, PA;
- Raymond Leeward, Pittsburgh, PA;
- Thomas Smith, or Lillian S. Smith (wife), Sewickley, PA;
- Daniel O. Kohler, Wixford, PA;
- Mario Corbi, Alliance, Ohio;
- Argie V. Tidmore, Pottsville, PA. William P. Tidmore, Pottsville, PA;
- Agnes C. Tidmore, Pottsville, PA;
- Argie D. Tidmore, Pottsville, PA.
Current Ownership
Argie D. Tidmore
Notes
Via FAA records, N17369 was renewed August 21st, 2013 and will next expire February 2nd, 2016.
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