Here is the origonal story as related by Larry Westin
The Story of a Very Special "Twin Stinson" Half Stinson - Half Langley Pierce-Arrow, model U-2, serial number 1
After viewing my Homepage, Harry Wells and I "talked" via E-Mail. Harry indicated he has a photograph of the "Twin Stinson." At first I thought he had photographed the Piper "Twin Stinson," which would later became the Piper Apache. Harry was kind enough to send me a copy of the photograph of N6622A taken at Gundy's Airport, Owasso, Oklahoma, by Harry Wells, and I was amazed to see this was truly a different "Twin Stinson."
Actually the airplane is part Stinson and part Langley Twin. The fuselage and tail are Stinson 108 while the wing, landing gear and engines are Langley Twin.
The Langley is a very rare airplane indeed, only about 3 or 4 were built, although it was a Type Certificated airplane, achieving ATC number 755. Built during World War II when aluminum was very scarce, it is a laminated all wood airplane, twin engine with fixed landing gear. Imagine a small looking Twin Beech, complete with twin fins and rudders, and you have a reasonable idea of what the Langley looked like.
Sometime around 1965 the Langley was landing in Oklahoma. After touch down the brakes locked flipping the airplane over and damaging the fuselage beyond economical repair. John Pierce and Hurley Boehler had a Stinson 108 fuselage in their hangar without wings, so they decided to purchase the Langley.
Construction of the airplane occurred at Harvey Young Airport, Tulsa, Oklahoma. Several old timers including John Pierce, Hurley Boehler and Jerry Hinds participated. The name came from Hurley Boehler who said "call it a Pierce Arrow." Then Jerry Hinds, who was present, said "you two guys are crazy." From this conversation came the type (Pierce Arrow) and the model (U-2 as an abbreviation for "you two"). The airplane was licensed in the experimental category as amateur built. Truly a unique airplane, it is the only example, and is serial number 1.
The Stinson 108 fuselage had the original Franklin engine were removed and a nose piece cover added along with a new windshield.
Examination of the FAA records for the airplane shows the approval for flight was issued on July 8, 1966. At this time the airplane was powered by the original engines installed on the Langley Twin, Franklin 90 Hp engines driving Flottorp 70KA54 fixed pitch props.
Toward the end of 1967 the engines were replaced with Lycoming O- 290-D engines (115 Hp) driving Sensenich M74DM props. Later, about 1980, the airplane was re-engined, this time with Lycoming O-320 engines driving McCauley 74-64 props.
FAA records show that it changed registered owners 6 times, with John Pierce being the registered owner twice. One owner is listed on some forms but apparently it was never actually registered to Joe Kennison as there is no bill of sale or registration in his name. Jerry Hinds purchased the airplane in June 1981 and he is the last registered owner on the FAA records. At the time Jerry purchased the airplane it had 551 hours flying time.
An "N" number search still shows Jerry Hinds as the current registered owner. I had the pleasure of talking with Jerry Hinds and he told me that he sold the airplane about 10 or 12 years ago (about 1986). At the time (1986) he traded the Pierce Arrow for a Swift to an individual in Aerococa, New Mexico. Apparently the new owner never actually registered the airplane.
Jerry indicated the airplane flew very well, but was also very underpowered with the original Franklin 90 Hp engines. The later Lycoming engines helped a great deal to improve performance. One big draw back was the small fuel tanks of the Langley twin, only 17 gallons each. To extend the range when flying cross country Jerry often shut down one engine. As fuel drained he would then restart the engine then shutdown the other engine.
Normal cruise was 150 MPH, rate of climb was 2,000 FPM, service ceiling 18,000, and single engine best rate of climb 750 FPM.
The Pierce Arrow was flown in formation with a Pitts Special, named "Foxy Lady," owned and flown by Mike, a friend of Jerry Hinds. Jerry and Mike flew the pair in airshows in addition to a Swift Jerry owned.
If anyone viewing this page is aware of the current status of this airplane please E-Mail me at westin@tdstelme.net
First my thanks to Harry Wells for bringing this unique "Stinson" to my attention. Also my thanks to Jerry Hinds for taking the time to talk with me about this very interesting airplane. Lastly my thanks to Vanessa Hawkins at the FAA Aircraft Registration Branch for sending me the aircrafts records.
Finally if you have old copies of aviation magazines, this airplane appeared on the April 1974 cover of Plane and Pilot magazine.
Visit Larry Westins Stinson 108 Page
Below you will see a couple of photos, the first is one of the origonal shots of the "Twin" in flight. The second is of how it looked when I brought it home.
I first saw the "Pierce Arrow" about 5 years ago, ( sometime in 1996), at the time I knew nothing about it only that it was setting in the back of a used car lot. Curiosity got the best of me and I made an inquiry to it and found out that they new nothing of it either. They had bought it about 10 years before as an advertising idea. They had planned on assembling it and putting it on the roof. However when they discovered what would happen to their insurance costs they decided it was not such a good idea. Eventually in 1999 I made a final offer on it and we came to an agreement as to purchase. The trip to bring it home was an effort that was met with challenges but if came off uneventful.
Upon getting it home the process of stripping all the fabric and inspection the airframe and wings proved to be a normal task. However the wings and center section would require a complete re-construction with no available information. Being torn back and forth as to restore or convert I have eventually come to the decision to convert her back to a Stinson 108. I have located an original set of Stinson 108 wings that I will rebuild. The tail feathers are complete and in very good condition so they will be serviceable after rebuild.
The major work will be reconstructing the fuselage sections at the wing mounts and the forward area for the engine mounts. I am considering using a 165 to 180 horse power engine to help with our high density altitude days.
Currently we have completed the inspections on the fuselage and am preparing the replacement wing mount attachments to be welded together then welded to the carry through. I have located and acquired a pair of Cessna 180 gear legs from a salvage yard as well as am fabricating the main gear mounts. I have a Scott tail wheel assembly that will replace the stock unit. So as far as all the parts I am in pretty good shape. Now it is the time consuming part to build it up and get her back into the air.
This page will be updated as progress is made.
Stinson 108 current list of work to be completed;
1; Install new main gear mounts and tack in. 2; Fabricate structural members for main gear and seat mounts. 3; Fabricate new wing mount hardware and tack in on carry through. 4; Fabricate new engine mount hardware and tack in. 5; Cut nose and fabricate new firewall. 6; Fabricate new forward sheet metal and cowlings from existing parts. 7; Fabricate new interior and seats. 8; Rebuild wings, look at additional "Stol" add modifications. 9; Fabricate new ailerons and flaps for wings. 10; Fabricate new fuel tanks. 11; fabricate new left side door. 12; Re-wire complete fuselage. 13; Fabricate new Baggage compartment. 14; Cover fuselage and wings, 15; Complete custom paint.
This is what I hope to have when she's done.
As of today, 11-24-2001, an update.
So far I have most of the center section completed. I have the major parts tack welded into place and have the under braces and supports to complete.Reconstructing something that was "really" cut up and be both frustrating and confusing if you are not sure what should go where.
This is an original 108 airframe that was discovered and has proved invaluable to determin the parts that were removed and what needs to be replaced. I was led to it by a friend, it has been setting out in a field for over 40 years waiting for me to come along. Salvagable, no, pricless for what I can gleen from it though.
This is the right wing, 1 of a pair of original 108-1 wings. When I found these I was lucky enough to get some spare ribs and some other bits and pieces. So far I have removed all but 2 of the ribs that needed to be replaced and installed ones I found. I have almost totally disasembled this wing as well as it's counter part and built them back as like new. I also have a set of Madras Tips, (STOL Tips), that will go on with some other wing mods to make her a true "Bush" Plane. Thanks to new friends I found on the "Net" I have located and recived a pair of wing tanks and the flaps. Now I need to find Ailerons or build them.
These are the "New" seats. I will totally rebuild them after sand blasting and they will get new foam and a custom upholstery to match the upholstery I am going to make for the cabin
Here is one of the Pierce cowlings and nose bowls. Since it will not work on the Stinson 108, ( I have a 108 nose bowl as it is), I am going to sell both of these. It comes complete with the PA-18 nose bowl, top and bottom cowlings as well as the side cowlings. If it looks Squat that is because I didn't put a support in the back of it to push it more to shape. Perfect for a nice homebuilt.
If you are interested in getting one of these drop me a note at,
11-24-2001, here are some photos of her setting on the C-180 gear and how it is coming along.
Just to give you some idea of how high she will set on the new gear. I also beafed up the gear supports from the origonal.
Hear you can see the added support to help keep everything in line while doing off field landings.
Here you can see some of the new metal for the firewall and engine mount supports. Still lots to do, but progress is made almost daily. Will be glad when I get the hanger so I don't have to keep moveing her in and out of the shop each time to weld.
