Kari-Keen 90 Sioux Coupe Explained

The Kari-Keen 90 Sioux coupe was a two-seat cabin monoplane.^[1]

Development

Kari-Keen was an automotive luggage producer that started in the growing aviation business in 1929. Production of the Sioux coupe began in 1929 and ended on 1 August 1933. The first model, the Kari-Keen 60 Sioux Coup, featured a 600NaN0 Velie M-5 engine. 22 aircraft were built without a type certificate. In 1930, six more model 90s were built with a type certificate. In 1931, the Sioux Aircraft Corporation bought the company assets, changing the name of the Kari-Keen 90 into the Sioux Coupe 90.^[2]

Design

The Kari-Keen 90 Sioux Coupe was designed by Swen Swanson and was a two-seat side-by-side high-wing monoplane with conventional landing gear. The wing was fully cantilevered, with skylights built in. The fuel tank sat above the pilot's head and was part of the leading edge. Ole Fahlin built all the propellers and test-flew the aircraft.^[3]

Variants

Kari-Keen 60 Sioux coupe:

Sioux Coupe 90:Lambert R-266 radial engine 90 hp.^[4]

Sioux Coupe 90A: powered with a 90 hp Brownback Tiger^[5]

Sioux Coupe 90B Junior:powered with a 90 hp Warner Scarab Junior - one built

Sioux Coupe 90C Senior:powered with a 110 hp Warner Scarab - one built ^[6]

Aircraft on display

• In 1988, a restored Kari-Keen 60 Sioux Coupe won Champion Antique at the 1988 EAA Oshkosh Airshow.^[7] This aircraft is now stored at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum.^[8]
• A Kari-Keen 90 Sioux Coupe is on display at the Iowa Aviation Museum^[9]
• A Kari-Keen 90A Sioux Coupe is on display at the Sioux City Public Museum, last flown in 2004.^[10]

External links

• Picture of a Sioux coupe model 90B
• Video of Kari Keen Coupe donation

Notes and References

1. Skyways. July 1999.
2. Sport Aviation. November 1977. GRAND CHAMPION ANTIQUE. Jack Cox.
3. Sport Aviation. November 1977. GRAND CHAMPION ANTIQUE. Jack Cox.
4. Web site: FAA TCDS. 30 October 2011.
5. Book: Air Commerce Bulletin, Volume 2. United States Bureau of Air Commerce.
6. Web site: FAA TCDS. 30 October 2011.
7. Phelps . Mark . A/C News . The Vintage Airplane . September 1988 . 16 . 9 . 4 . 19 September 2019.
8. Web site: Skaarup . Harold . Warplanes in Alberta, Wetaskiwin, Reynolds-Alberta Museum . Military History Books . 19 September 2019.
9. Web site: Iowa Aviation Museum. 30 October 2011.
10. News: Sioux City Journal. 28 March 2010.