In 1926 the independently wealthy Harold Pitcairn first won the New York to Atlanta mail contract, then later in the year acquired the Atlanta to Miami route. Forging the eastern costal lines into a single line he then decided to build his own plane to carry the mail. The Mailwing was the end product. Designed for night flying it had navigation lights on its port and starboard wingtips with landing lights on the lower wings at interplane struts. The forward cockpit area was given over to the mail compartment. On May 1 1928 Pitcairn Aviation’s Mailwing flew the first air mail from New York to Atlanta and, on December 1 all the way through to Miami. Within a year Pitcairn sold the airline for $2.5 million in cash to the aeronautical complex being assembled by C.M. Keys were it acquired a new name. Eastern Air Transport.

 

Height	9 feet 3 inches
Length	22 feet
Wing Span (upper)	33 feet 0 inches
Wing Span (lower)	30 feet 0 inches
Stagger	22 inches
Seats	Seats 3
Empty Weight	1612 lbs
Useful Load	600 lbs
Max Gross Weight	3050 lbs
Maximum Speed	136 Mph
Crusing Speed	105 Mph
Stall Speed	52 Mph
Crusing Range	600 Miles
Service Ceilng	16,000 feet
Engine	Wright Whirlwind Air-cooled engine 220 hp
Fuel Capacity	60 Gal
Oil Capacity	8.5 Gal
Year of Introduction	1928-1935
Number Built	53 PA-6