Designed by M.C.Tunison, the 1930 plywood Scout was in the $2500 class. Influenced by the French Antoinette Monobloc design, it has wide-chord, sparless, molded-plywood wings with only four ribs on each side, bias ailerons. A monocoque fuselage with a “vista dome” canopy and deep, faired gear with built-in landing lights. Won a $2,300 prize for design.
It was especially constructed for photographic work and equipped with skies to accompany the Antarctic Byrd Expedition. Over 1500 photos of the region were taken.
First flown on 21 December 1928 (piloted by Jimmie Angel) it was registered NX247E c/n MC-1, re-registered NX425, then refitted with 600hp Miller and re-re-registered as NX13795.
Plans by financial group, Pacific Air Industries, to produce three models of the plane with 150-480hp motor options never materialized.
NX13795 is the Zion Tunison Scout c/n 1, according to the 1936 register: “Community of Zion, Elsinore CA; Zion Tunison Scout; 3PCLM; #1 ’34; Miller 600hp or 800hp.” This is probably N425 rebuilt.
In 2/9/29, Air Transportation N425 is listed as a Junkers! “Scout Airplane Sales Co, Los Angeles CA. Long wing Junkers MC1 – Hispano-Suiza 3.” Tunison Scout might have been a heavily rebuilt Junkers-Larsen JL-6.
Engine: Wright-Hisso H-3, 300hp
Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in
Length: 29’0″
Useful load: 1391 lb
Max speed: 190 mph
Cruise speed: 165 mph
Stall: 45 mph
ROC: 1000 fpm
Range: 600 mi
Seats: 3
All Aero 