A HISTORY OF STEWARD-DAVIS INC.

Steward-Davis Inc. was founded in 1946 by Herb Steward and Stanley Davis at Compton
Airport, California. They were one of many such innovative companies to come to life in the
post-WW2 era specializing in aircraft conversions and aeronautical developments.
Over the years Steward-Davis performed modifications to the Fairchild C-82
Packet, Fairchild C-119 Flying Boxcar, Consolidated PBY-5A Catalina and even
did ten modifications of the Vultee BT-13 Valiant into Japanese "Val" replicas
for the 1970 film Tora! Tora! Tora!.
The have been located at Gardena, CA. and from around 1961 at Long Beach Airport, CA.

My interest in this company goes back to my favourite aircraft the
C-82 Packet which has since become a major research project.
The author is very interested to hear from ex-Steward-Davis employees or anyone
who might have photos, documents or information on this company.
Please email Simon Beck at: sdbeck@caverock.net.nz

The following is a list of Steward-Davis aircraft conversions, activities,
photos and documents:

WESTINGHOUSE JET ENGINE
Steward-Davis acquired the manufacturing rights to the Westinghouse series of jet engines to
which they put to work on the C-82 and C-119 cargo aircraft as an additional power supply.
They were also component suppliers to Westinghouse jet operators worldwide.

Steward-Davis employees Charles Hall (left) and chief pilot
Leo Dorney inspect the twin-pak J30 arrangement on
Jet-Packet 3200 N5095V.

FAIRCHILD C-82 PACKET
When 120 Fairchild C-82 Packet cargo transports (224 built), became available in 1954 for civil use, Herb Steward
saw the potential of these aircraft when fitted with the Jet-Pak engine. The C-82 had poor (virtually no!), single engine
performance which could be corrected by the installation of a single jet engine above the fuselage center section.
This would help in max. load take-offs and engine out situations. FAA C-82 Type Certificate: AR-15 was awarded to
Steward-Davis on July 7, 1955. In 1961 they entered the Jet-Packet sales business with New Frontier Airlift Corp. of
Phoenix, AZ. Dan Thompson had since replaced Stanley Davis and Henry A. Smith was president for New Frontier.
They also looked after C-82 servicing for Latin and South American operators.

Steward-Davis Inc. handled C-82 servicing for Latin American
operators. Here a Mexicana Airlines C-82, XA-LOJ, is seen in flight
over Mexico City.

The following is a list of C-82 Jet-Pak options followed by a list of C-82
aircraft owned by Steward-Davis & New Frontier Airlift Corp.:
JET-PACKET 1600
Modifications: Standard C-82A with center fuselage Jet-Pak.
Jet-Pak: 1 Westinghouse J30-W (J1600 Jet-Pak)
Thrust: 1,600lbst.
Max weight: 54,000lbs.
First flight: November 1956
FAA Type Certificate awarded: May 12, 1961
Jet-Packet 1600
Standard C-82A aircraft with Jet-Pak.
Jet-Packet 1600A (Jet-Packet II)
As 1600, modified landing gear, brake, flap, engine, hydraulic, fuel and emergency systems.
Jet-Packet 1600B (Jet-Packet II)
As 1600A, upgraded engines from R-2800-85 to R-2800CB-16 radials.

Perhaps the most well known C-82 after the TWA Packet was Steward-Davis' Jet-Packet 1600
N6887C, seen here in the late 1960's still with it's "Flight of the Phoenix" paint scheme.
Photo: Andre van Loon Collection.

JET-PACKET 3200
Modifications: As Jet-Packet 1600 but with twin Jet-Pak.
Jet-Pak: 2 Westinghouse J30-W
Thrust: 3,200lbst.
Max weight: 54,000lbs.
First flight: 1957

Jet-Packet prototype N5095V, with both engines shut down and flying solely
on it's twin J30 installation!

JET-PACKET 3400
Modifications: As Jet-Packet 1600, higher thrust Jet-Pak.
Jet-Pak: 1 Westinghouse J34-WE-34 / J34-WE-36 (Jet-Pak 3402)
Thrust: 3,250lbst. (-34) / 3,400lbst. (-36)
Max weight: 54,000lbs.
Design started: August 1961
First flight: October 1962
FAA Type Certificate awarded: July 23, 1963
Jet-Packet 3400
Standard C-82A aircraft with Jet-Pak.
Jet-Packet 3400A (Jet-Packet II)
As 3400, modified landing gear, brake, flap, engine, hydraulic, fuel and emergency systems.
Jet-Packet 3400B (Jet-Packet II)
As 3400A, upgraded engines from R-2800-85 to R-2800CB-16 radials.

SKYTRUCK I
Modifications: As Jet-Packet II, higher weights / performance, hot-air de-icing system.
Jet-Pak: 1 Westinghouse J34-WE-34
Thrust: 3,250lbst.
Max weight: 60,000lbs.
Design started: January 1, 1962
Conversion started: June 1, 1963
First flight: February 28, 1964

Skytruck I prototype N74127, at Long Beach in early 1964, note the Steward-Davis
logo on the nose and tail. Photo: Eddie Coates Collection.

SKYPALLET
Mods: Detachable cargo floor with an internally fitted hoist,
application applies to any Jet-Packet 1600 / 3400.
Max weight: 60,000lbs.
Conversion started: 1963
First flight: 1965

The distinctive "Skypallet" modification to N4828V, this change was compatible with
both the Jet-Packet and Skytruck options. Photo: Andre van Loon Collection.

FAIRCHILD C-119 FLYING BOXCAR

JET-PAK C-119
Modifications: Standard C-119 with center fuselage Jet-Pak.
Jet-Pak: 1 Westinghouse J34-WE-36 (Jet-Pak 3402)
Thrust: 3,400lbst.
Max weight: 77,000lbs.
Design started: January 1961
Conversion started: March 1962
First flight: September 1962
Conversions: 1962, 27 Jet-Pak 3402 kits supplied to C-119 aircraft of the Indian Air Force.
                   1970, 29 Jet-Pak 3402 kits supplied to C-119 US civil operators.

STOLMASTER
Modifications: Quick-attach Jet-Paks designed for Aircraft International of Santa Monica, California.
Jet-Pak: 1, 2 or 3 Westinghouse J34-WE-36 (Jet-Pak 3402)
Thrust: 3,400lbst.
Max weight: 77,000lbs.
First flight: May 9, 1967
Conversion: N383S ((RCAF) 22133)

CONSOLIDATED PBY-5A CATALINA

SUPER CATALINA
Modifications: Standard Catalina with 1,900hp Wright Cyclone R-2600 engine upgrade,
larger squared tail, faired over nose, prop-spinners, wheel hub covers,
air-stairs, under-wing dinghies. PBY-6A conversions retained their original
tails and weren't modified to the squared-tip design.

Canso A (PBY-5A) N6108, was never converted to Super Catalina standards but was owned
by Steward-Davis Inc. It's seen here at Long Beach in 1969 painted for the film
"Tora! Tora! Tora!". Photo: Peter Keating.

SIKORSKY S-51 DRAGONFLY
I have no details of why these helicopters were registered to Steward-Davis
except to say that they are all Westland-Sikorsky WS-51 Dragonfly Mk.1B
civil versions. These were the English license-built version of the US military
Sikorsky H-5 Dragonfly helicopter.
One theory is that Steward-Davis may have been servicing agents for the
Mexican owners. Several Sikorsky S-55 and Hiller Model UH12 helicopters
have also been noted on the Steward-Davis apron at some point.

VULTEE BT-13 / BT-15 VALIANT

AICHI D3A VAL Replica
Modifications: Ten aircraft modified with fuselage and wing-tip extensions, wing and tail fibreglass fillets,
fibreglass wheel covers, canopy modifications, engine upgrades with 2 or 3 bladed propellers to represent
the Japanese Aichi D3A "Val" dive-bomber for the 1970 film "Tora! Tora! Tora!". 100 torpedoes and 400 bombs
were also built by Steward-Davis out of fibreglass. 12 Mitsubishi A6M Zero and 9 Nakajima B5N Kate replicas
were built by a second company, Cal-Volair also located at Long Beach Airport, CA.
Conversions started: mid to late 1968

	The front cover of the June 1957 issue of Steward-Davis' newsletter "The Packeteer". This publication was put out to inform potential buyers in the aviation community of the latest developments going on at Steward-Davis Inc. Does anyone else have such material from this period? - S. Beck.
	One of the featured articles in "The Packeteer" was a demonstration of the Jet-Packet 3200, a C-82 fitted with two J30-W (1600lbst) auxiliary jet engines.
	A close shot of the unique tail design by Steward-Davis for the Mexicana Airlines fleet. Dorsal fillets were added to improve directional stability. Known Mexicana aircraft to have been given this modification are: XA-LOJ (45-57740 pictured), XA-LOK (45-57756), XA-LOL (45-57766) and XA-MAW (45-57807).
	By the late 1960's Jet-Packet sales had slumped for New Frontier Airlift Corp. who subsequently went bankrupt, Steward-Davis Inc. however, continued on in the aviation business. Listed C-82 aircraft at Long Beach by 1970 included: N136E, N4828V, N4833V, N53228, N6887C, N6985C, CP-693, XA-LOJ (pictured) and XA-LOK. Photo: Andre van Loon Collection.
	The Mystery of N6887C? The last known photo (Andre van Loon Collection), I have of N6887C taken at Chino, CA. in the early 1970's. It apparently operated an illegal flight over Mexico where it was impounded, abandoned and eventually donated to the city of Hermosillo as a playground attraction - further details anyone?

A Special Thanks to the following people for their assistance:
Eddie Coates for his valuable C-82 photo collection taken at Long Beach Airport.
Stanley Epstein of Steward-Davis Intl. for historical information on the company.
Alwyn T. Lloyd for background material on the C-82 and C-119.
Gordon Reid for the notes from his aircraft log book on Long Beach C-82's & Catalinas.
Dan Thompson for background information.
Andre van Loon for use of his C-82 photo collection.