Boeing-Stearman Model 75

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Template:Short description Template:Use American English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox aircraft The Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 is an American biplane formerly used as a military trainer aircraft, of which at least 10,626 were built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s.<ref>National Museum of the United States Air Force gives the figure 10,346 but this includes the equivalent airframes in manufactured spare parts.</ref> Stearman Aircraft became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934. Widely known as the Stearman, Boeing Stearman, or Kaydet, it served as a primary trainer for the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy (as the NS and N2S), and with the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Kaydet throughout World War II. After the conflict was over, thousands of surplus aircraft were sold on the civilian market. In the immediate postwar years, they became popular as crop dusters and sports planes, and for aerobatic and wing walking use in air shows.

Design and development

File:WAVE parachute rigger with N2S c1944.jpg
A WAVE in a Boeing Stearman N2S United States Navy training aircraft
File:N2S-2 NAS Corpus Christi 1943.jpg
United States Navy N2S-2 at NAS Corpus Christi, 1943
File:Boeing-Stearman NS-1-1936.jpg
United States Navy NS-1s of the NAS Pensacola Flight School, 1936
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Boeing Stearman E75 (PT-13D) of 1944
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Vintage Boeing-Stearman Model 75, Breitling SA
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Boeing Stearman (PT-13D) of the TALOA in Dirgantara Mandala Museum, Indonesia
File:Boeing Stearman top view.jpg
Boeing Stearman (PT-13) of the Israeli Air Force
File:N2S Kaydet ambulance 1942.jpg
United States Navy N2S ambulance at NAS Corpus Christi, 1942
File:Stearman Modelo PT-17 en el IEHAP-Lima.jpg
Boeing Stearman PT-17, Museum of Historical Studies Institute of Aerospace in Perú – Lima
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PT-17 "Kaydet" on display at the Museum of Aviation, Robins AFB
File:Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet.jpg
Boeing Stearman PT-17 Kaydet – Aeronautics Museum of Maracay

In late 1933, Stearman engineers Mac Short, Harold W. Zipp, and J. Jack Clark took a 1931 Lloyd Stearman design, and added cantilever landing gear and adjustable elevator trim tabs, to produce the Model 70. Able to withstand +12g and -9g, the aircraft was powered by a 210-hp Lycoming R-680, first flew on 1 January 1934, before flight tests were conducted at Wright Field, Naval Air Station Anacostia, and Pensacola. The Navy then requested a similar model built to Navy specifications, including a 200-hp Wright J-5 engine. The resultant Model 73, was designated NS-1 by the Navy, of which 41 were ordered, including enough spares to build another 20 aircraft.<ref name="ep">Template:Cite book</ref>

In the summer of 1934, Stearman engineers refined the Model 73 into the Model X75. The Army Air Corps evaluated the plane that autumn, powered by a 225-hp Wright R-760 or a 225-hp Lycoming R-680. In July 1935, the Army Air Corps ordered 26 with the Lycoming engine, designated the PT-13A, while the navy ordered an additional 20. In August 1936, the Army ordered an additional 50 PT-13As, followed by another 30 in October, and another 28 in December. Simultaneously, the company received orders for its primary trainer from the Argentinian navy, the Philippine Army Air Corps, and the Brazilian Air Force. In January 1937, the army ordered another 26 PT-13As.<ref name=ep/>

On 6 June 1941, the U.S. government issued Approved Type Certificate No. 743 for the civilian version of the Model 75. Designated the Model A75L3 (PT-13) and Model A75N1 (PT-17), about 60 were sold to civilian flights schools such as Parks College of Engineering, Aviation and Technology, and for export.<ref name=ep/>Template:Rp

On 15 March 1941, the company delivered the 1000th trainer to the Army, and the 1001st trainer to the Navy. Then on 27 August 1941, the company delivered the 2000th trainer to the Army. On 27 July 1944, the company delivered its 10,000th primary trainer.<ref name=ep/>Template:Rp

The Kaydet was a conventional biplane of rugged construction, with a large, fixed tailwheel undercarriage, and accommodation for the student and instructor in open cockpits in tandem. The radial engine was usually not cowled, although some Stearman operators choose to cowl the engine, most notably the Red Baron Stearman Squadron.

Operational history

Post-war usage

After World War II, thousands of surplus PT-17s were auctioned off to civilians and former military pilots. Many were modified for crop-dusting use, with a hopper for pesticide or fertilizer fitted in place of the front cockpit. Additional equipment included pumps, spray bars, and nozzles mounted below the lower wings. A popular approved modification to increase the maximum takeoff weight and climb performance involved fitting a larger Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior engine and a constant-speed propeller.

Variants

Data from: United States Navy aircraft since 1911,<ref name=Swanborough>Template:Cite book</ref> Boeing aircraft since 1916<ref name="Bowers">Template:Cite book</ref> 8,584 Model 70s, 75s and 76s were built, with additional "spares" bringing the number up to the sometimes quoted 10,346.<ref name=Bowers255/>

USAAC/USAAF designations

The U.S. Army Air Forces Model 75 Kaydet had three different designations, PT-13, PT-17 and PT-18, depending on which type of radial engine was installed.

PT-13
Initial production version with Lycoming R-680-B4B engine, 26 built in 1936
PT-13A Model A75 with R-680-7 engine, 92 delivered from 1937 to 1938.
PT-13B R-680-11 engine, 255 delivered from 1939 to 1941.
PT-13C Six PT-13Bs modified for instrument flying.
PT-13D Model E75 with R-680-17 engine, 793 delivered
PT-17
Version with Continental R-670-5 engine, 2,942 delivered.
PT-17A 136 PT-17s modified with blind-flying instrumentation.
PT-17B Three PT-17s modified with agricultural spraying equipment for pest control near army bases.
PT-17C Single PT-17 conversion with standardized Army-Navy equipment.
PT-18
Version with Jacobs R-755-7 engine, 150 built. Further production was cancelled as the engines were needed for other types of trainers.
PT-18A Six PT-18s modified with blind-flying instrumentation.
PT-27
USAAF paperwork designation given to 300 D75N1/PT-17 aircraft supplied under Lend-Lease to the Royal Canadian Air Force. The last example built, FK108, had a canopy installed.Template:Efn<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>

US Navy designations

NS
Up to 61 Model 73B1 delivered, powered by Template:Cvt Wright J-5/R-790 Whirlwind radials<ref name="Bowers pp. 252–3">Bowers 1989, pp. 252–253.</ref>
N2S
Known colloquially as the "Yellow Peril" from its overall yellow paint scheme.
N2S-1 Model A75N1 with Continental R-670-14 engine, 250 delivered.
N2S-2 Model B75 with Lycoming R-680-8 engine, 125 delivered in 1941.
N2S-3 Model B75N1 with Continental R-670-4 engine, 1,875 delivered.
N2S-4 Model A75N1 with Continental R-670-4 and -5 engines, 457 delivered of 579 ordered, including 99 PT-17s diverted from U.S. Army orders.
N2S-5 Model E75 with Lycoming R-680-17 engine, 1,450 delivered.

Company designations

Stearman 70
Company designation for prototype, powered by Template:Cvt Lycoming radial engine, designated XPT-943 for evaluation<ref name="Bowers pp. 251–2">Bowers 1989, pp. 251–252.</ref>
Model 73
Initial production version, 61 built for U.S. Navy as NS plus export variants<ref name="Bowers pp. 252–3"/>
Model 73L3
Version for the Philippines, powered by Template:Cvt R-680-4 or R-680C1 engines, seven built<ref name="Bowers p. 253">Bowers 1989, p. 253.</ref>
Model A73B1
Seven aircraft for Cuban Air Force powered by Template:Cvt Wright R-790 Whirlwind, delivered 1939–1940<ref name="Bowers p. 253"/>
Model A73L3
Improved version for the Philippines, three built<ref name="Bowers p. 254">Bowers 1989, p. 254.</ref>
Stearman 75
(or X75) Evaluated by the U.S. Army as a primary trainer, the X75L3 became the PT-13 prototype. Variants of the 75 formed the PT-17 family.
Stearman 76
Export trainer and armed version of the 75 with a gun ring and one or two fixed forward firing machine guns.
A76B4
5 built for Venezuela.
A76C3
15 built for Brazil.
B76C3
15 built with cameras for Brazil.
76D1
16 built for Argentina and three for Philippines as BT-1.
S76D1
seaplane version of 76D1 for Argentina
76D3
24 built for Philippine Constabulary as BT-1 armed advanced trainer, and 24 built for Cuba.

Other designations

Stearman XPT-943
Designation assigned to the X70 evaluated at Wright Field
Stearman Kaydet
Name used for aircraft in Royal Canadian Air Force service
American Airmotive NA-75
Single-seat agricultural conversion of Model 75, fitted with new, high-lift wings<ref name="JAWA65 p. 178">Taylor 1965, p. 178.</ref>

Operators

Template:ARG
Template:BOL
Template:BRA
Brazilian Air Force Model A75L3 and 76.<ref name="andrade158">Andrade 1979, p. 158</ref>
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Royal Canadian Air Force received 301 PT-27s under Lend Lease.<ref name="Bowers p. 265">Bowers 1989, p. 265.</ref>
Template:ROC
Republic of China Air Force received 150 PT-17s under Lend-Lease,<ref name="Bowers p. 262">Bowers 1989, p. 262.</ref> and 104 refurbished aircraft post war in Taiwan. The ROCAF used them until 1958.<ref name="Bowers pp. 260–1">Bowers 1989, pp. 260–261.</ref>
Template:COL
Colombian Air Force<ref name="andrade159">Andrade 1979, p. 159</ref>
Template:CUB
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Template:IRN
Imperial Iranian Air Force
Template:ISR
Israeli Air Force purchased 20 PT-17s.<ref name="Nordeen p. 27">Nordeen 1991, p. 27.</ref>
Template:MEX
Mexican Air Force
Template:NIC
Nicaraguan Air ForceTemplate:Citation needed
Template:Flag
Paraguayan Air Force<ref name="andrade159">Andrade 1979, p. 159</ref>
Template:PER
Peruvian Air ForceTemplate:Citation needed
Template:Flag
Philippine Constabulary Air Corps
Philippine Army Air Corps<ref name="andrade158" />
Philippine Air Force
Template:USA
United States Army Air Corps/United States Army Air Forces<ref name="andrade158" />
United States Marine CorpsTemplate:Citation needed
United States Navy<ref name="andrade158" />
Template:VEN
Venezuelan Air Force<ref name="andrade158" />
Template:YUG
Yugoslav Air Force

Surviving aircraft

A considerable number of Stearmans remain in flying condition throughout the world, as the type remains a popular sport plane and warbird.

Argentina

File:Ultimo Stearman de la Aviación Naval en vuelo.jpg
Argentine Naval Aviation N2S-5 preserved in flight condititon

Australia

  • 75-6488 – B75N1 registered as VH-EYC, airworthy, owned by Steven Bradley, South Australia 5134<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
  • 75-7462 - B75N1 - registered as VH-PWS, airworthy, owned by Michael Murphy, Royal Aero Club of Victoria.
  • 75-8314 – E75 Registered as VH-USE, airworthy, owned by Raalin, Western Australia 6208<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Austria

Brazil

Canada

Colombia

Iceland

Indonesia

Israel

Mexico

Netherlands

New Zealand

Peru

Spain

Switzerland

  • 75-5436 – PT-13D is airworthy, registered as HB-RBG, and based at the Fliegermuseum Altenrhein.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Built in 1943 and restored to airworthiness in 1989 after sustaining considerable damage during an emergency landing in the grounds of the Stadler Rail factory in Altenrhein due to engine failure.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Taiwan

United States

File:Arkansas Air & Military Museum May 2017 20 (Boeing-Stearman NS2-S).jpg
Boeing-Stearman NS2-S at the Arkansas Air & Military Museum in Fayetteville, Arkansas
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Boeing-Stearman Kaydet at the Air Zoo
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Boeing Stearman at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum
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Boeing Stearman at the College Park Aviation Museum

Specifications (PT-17)

3-view line drawing of the Boeing N2S-3
3-view line drawing of the Boeing N2S-3

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See also

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References

Footnotes

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Notes

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Bibliography

  • Andrade, John. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, Template:ISBN
  • Avis, Jim and Bowman, Martin. Stearman: A Pictorial History. Motorbooks, 1997. Template:ISBN.
  • Bowers, Peter M. Boeing Aircraft since 1916. London:Putnam, 1989. Template:ISBN.
  • Nordeen, Lon. Fighters Over Israel. London: Guild Publishing, 1991.
  • Phillips, Edward H. Stearman Aircraft: A Detailed History . Specialty Press, 2006. Template:ISBN.
  • Template:Cite journal
  • Swanborough, F.G. and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, 1963.
  • Taylor, John W. R. Jane's All The World's Aircraft 1965–66. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, 1965.
  • Template:Cite book

Videography

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  • Stearman, Lloyd. Stearmans, You Gotta Love Them. Lap Records, 2005. (NTSC Format)

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Template:Stearman Aircraft Template:Boeing model numbers Template:USAF trainer aircraft Template:USN trainer aircraft Template:Wright Field project numbers