Rearwin Aircraft and Engines introduced the Skyranger in 1940 as a side-by-side two-seat cabin monoplane. Designed by Gene Salvay and George A. Stark, the Skyanger was first flown on 9 April 1940, given Aircraft Type Certificate #729 in 1940.

This aircraft was first produced in four versions: the 175 with a 75-hp Continental, the 180 with an 80-hp Continental, the 180F with a 80-hp Franklin, and the 190F powered by a 90-hp Franklin engine. Seating two people side-by-side, it featured a fabric-covered steel tube fuselage and wooden wing and it sold for about $3000. It had a conventional landing gear with a tailwheel.

About 85 were built by 1941. The Skyranger was the last design of Rearwin Aircraft. Production stopped in 1942 because of the war effort.

In 1942 the Rearwin Airplane Company was purchased by Commonwealth Aircraft of Kansas City, Missouri. In 1943 the company was reorganized as the Commonwealth Aircraft Corp. The Commonwealth Skyranger 185, with its Continental C-85-12 engine, new from the factory on Long Island was about $3,000 in early 1946.

In 1946 Commonwealth re-established the construction of the Skyranger at their Valley Stream plant for just one year. By November of 1946, production of the Skyranger stopped due to market pressures. It had many minor modifications but was essentially the same aircraft. The Skyranger 185 is fabric covered. The fuselage is welded steel tubing, and the wing has wood spars and ribs. A full electrical system was standard, and the aircraft has a large baggage compartment, and wing slots which give better aileron control at low speeds. Two 12.5-gal. wing tanks were standard, 18-gal. tanks were an option. As the anticipated post-war boom in civil aviation had not then started, Commonwealth went bankrupt in 1947, after 275 Skyrangers were built by Commonwealth.

Serial numbers in the 1500s were built by Rearwin. Serial numbers in the 1600s are Commonwealth 185 Skyrangers.

Gallery

Skyranger 165
Engine: Continental, 65 hp
Wing Span: 34 ft
Length: 21 ft, 9 in
Height: 6 ft, 7 in
Wheel Tread: 74 in
Wing Area: 164.6 sq ft
Wing Loading: 8.2 lbs/sq ft
Power Loading: 20.77 lbs/hp
Empty Weight: 760 lbs
Useful Load: 590 lbs
Gross Weight: 1350 lbs
Baggage and Extra Equipment: 100 lbs
Fuel Capacity: 24 USgal
Fuel Consumption: 4 USgal/hr
Maximum Speed: 105 mph
Cruising Speed: 95 mph
Landing Speed: 38 mph
Cruising Range: 500 miles
Service Ceiling: 12,000 ft
Rate of Climb: 550 ft/min

Skyranger 175
Engine: Continental, 75 hp
Wing Span: 34 ft
Length: 21 ft, 9 in
Height: 6 ft, 7 in
Wheel Tread: 74 in
Wing Area: 164.6 sq ft
Wing Loading: 8.2 lbs/sq ft
Power Loading: 18 lbs/hp
Empty Weight: 760 lbs
Useful Load: 590 lbs
Gross Weight: 1350 lbs
Baggage and Extra Equipment: 100lbs
Fuel Capacity: 24 USgal
Fuel Consumption: 4.6 USgal/hr
Maximum Speed: 110 mph
Cruising Speed: 100 mph
Landing Speed: 38 mph
Cruising Range: 500 miles
Service Ceiling: 14,000 ft
Rate of Climb: 625 ft/min
Type Certificate: 729

Skyranger 180
Engine: Continental, 80 hp
Empty weight: 910 lb
MAUW: 1450 lb
Fuel capacity: 48 USG
Top speed: 114 mph
Cruise speed: 103 mph
Stall: 40 mph
Initial ROC: 650 fpm
Range: 500 miles
Ceiling: 14,000 ft
Seats: 2
Type Certificate: amendment to 729

Skyranger 180F
Engine: Franklin 4AC-176-F3
Type Certificate: amendment to 729

Skyranger 185
Engine: Continental C-185-12, 85 hp (63 kW)
Wing Span: 34 ft
Length: 21 ft, 9 in
Height: 6 ft, 7 in
Wheel Tread: 74 in
Wing Area: 164.6 sq ft
Wing Loading: 8.81 lbs/sq ft
Power Loading: 17.06 lbs/hp
Gross weight: 1,350 lb / 612 kg
Fuel Capacity: 30 USgal
Fuel Consumption: 5 USgal/hr
Endurance: 5 hours
Maximum Speed: 114 mph
Cruising Speed: 103 mph
Landing Speed: 38 mph
Cruising Range: 600 miles
Service Ceiling: 14,000 feet
Rate of Climb: 650 ft/min
Crew: 1
Capacity: 2

Skyranger 190F
Engine: Franklin 4AC-199-E3, 90 hp
Type Certificate: amendment to 729