PT-17 Stearman

Model 75 "Stearman" Kaydet

Boeing Stearman N67193 in USN markings
Role	Biplane Trainer
Manufacturer	Stearman Aircraft / Boeing
Introduction	1934
Number built	9,800
Unit cost	$11,000

The Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 is a biplane used as a military trainer aircraft, of which at least 8,584 were built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s.^[1] 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 USAAF, the USN (as the NS & N2S), and with the RCAF 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, sports planes, and for aerobatic and wing walking use in airshows.

1 Design and development
2 Operational history
- 2.1 Post-War usage
3 Variants
4 Operators
5 Survivors
6 Specifications (PT-17)
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

Design and development

The Kaydet was a conventional biplane of rugged construction with large, fixed tailwheel undercarriage, and accommodation for the student and instructor in open cockpits in tandem. The radial engine was usually uncowled, 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, the thousands of PT (primary trainer)-17 Stearmans were auctioned off to civilians and former pilots. Many were modified for cropdusting 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 engine and a constant speed propeller.

Variants

The US Army Air Forces Kaydet had three different designations based on its power plant:

PT-13: with a Lycoming R-680 engine. 2,141 total all models.^[2]

PT-13 Initial production. R-680-B4B engine. 26 built.

PT-13A R-680-7 engine. 92 delivered 1937-38. Model A-75.

PT-13B R-680-11 engine. 255 delivered 1939-40.

PT-13C Six PT-13Bs modified for instrument flying.

PT-13D PT-13As equipped with the R-680-17 engine. 353 delivered.

PT-17

With a Continental R-670-5 engine. 3,519 delivered

PT-17A 18 PT-17s were equipped with blind-flying instrumentation.

PT-17B Three PT-17s were equipped with agricultural spraying equipment for pest-control.

PT-18

PT-13 with a Jacobs R-755 engine, 150 built.

PT-18A Six PT-18s fitted with blind-flying instrumention.

PT-27: Canadian PT-17. This designation was given to 300 aircraft supplied under Lend-Lease to the RCAF.

The US Navy had several versions including:

NS

Up to 61 delivered. powered by surplus 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J-5 Whirlwind.^[3]

N2S

Known colloquially as the "Yellow Peril" from its overall-yellow paint scheme.

N2S-1 R-670-14 engine. 250 delivered to the US Navy.

N2S-2 R-680-8 engine. 125 delivered to the US Navy.

N2S-3 R-670-4 engine. 1,875 delivered to the US Navy.

N2S-4 99 US Army aircraft diverted to the US Navy, plus 577 new-build aircraft.

N2S-5 R-680-17 engine. 1,450 delivered to the US Navy.

Stearman 70: Original prototype, powered by 215 hp (160 kW) Lycoming radial engine. Temporary designation XPT-943 for evaluation.^[4]
Model 73: Initial production version. 61 built for US Navy as NS plus export variants.^[3]

Model 73L3 Version for Philippines, powered by 200 hp (150 kW) R-680-4 or R-680C1 engines. Seven built.^[5] Model A73B1 Seven aircraft for Cuban Air Force powered by 235 hp (175 kW) Wright R-760 Whirlwind. Delivered 1939–1940.^[5] Model A73L3 Improved version for Philippines. Three built.^[6]

Stearman 75: (a.k.a. X75) Evaluated by the 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 versions of the 75.
Stearman 90 and 91: (a.k.a. X90 & X91) Productionised metal framed version becoming the XBT-17.
Stearman XPT-943: The X70 evaluated at Wright Field.
American Airmotive NA-75: Single seat agricultural conversion of Model 75, fitted with new, high lift wings.^[7]

Operators

Argentina

Argentine Air Force

Argentine Navy received 16 Model 76D1s 1936 to 1937^[8]
Bolivia
Brazil: Brazilian Air Force
Canada: Royal Canadian Air Force received 300 PT-27s under Lend Lease.^[9]
Republic of China: Republic of China Air Force received 150 PT-17s under Lend-Lease,^[10] and 20 refurbished aircraft post war.^[11]
Colombia: Colombian Air Force
Cuba
Dominican Republic
Greece
Guatemala
Honduras
Iran: Imperial Iranian Air Force
Israel: Israeli Air Force
Mexico: Mexican Air Force
Nicaragua: Nicaraguan Air Force
Paraguay: Paraguayan Air Force
Peru: Peruvian Air Force
Philippines: Philippine Army Air Corps; Philippine Air Force
United States: US Army Air Corps/US Army Air Forces; US Marine Corps; United States Navy
Venezuela: Venezuelan Air Force

Survivors

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

Brazil

Museu Aeroespacial in Rio de Janeiro

Colombia

Two PT-17 remaining in active service for display, the FAC-62 and FAC-1995.

Israel

The Israeli Air Force maintains a single airworthy PT-17 (31) at its museum in Hatzerim.

Peru

PT-17 on display Instituto de Estudios Históricos Aeroespaciales del Perú, Miraflores, Lima.

Mexico

3 Pt-17 at the Air College for exhibition

United States

Stearman model 70 The original prototype of the model 75 at Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum.
Stearman model 75 is in regular use at Chester County G. O. Carlson Airport in Coatesville, Pennsylvania.
PT-13D (s/n 42-17800) is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. This aircraft is the last Kaydet produced. It was donated in 1959 by the Boeing Aircraft Company, which purchased the Stearman Company in 1938.^[12]
75-3130 is on display in the hangar deck of the USS Yorktown (CV-10) at The Patriot's Point Naval and Maritime Museum in Charleston, South Carolina.
A PT-17 in which George H.W. Bush once flew as part of his navy training is on display at the Pacific Aviation Museum, on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor.
A PT-17 is on display Carolinas Aviation Museum, Charlotte, North Carolina.
A PT-17 is on display at Vintage Flying Museum, Meacham International Airport, Fort Worth, Texas.
A PT-17 (N53129) is in regular use at Mississippi State University as a research aircraft and glider tow-plane^[13]
PT-17 (s/n 41-8786) is on display at the New England Air Museum, Bradley International Airport, Windsor Locks, CT ^[14]

Uruguay

PT-17 (CX-AKC). Model A 75 NL PT 17 - SN 75-3-119 / 7 Dec 1942 ("Slat" Magazine #26 jun/jul 1998)

Specifications (PT-17)

Data from United States Military Aircraft since 1909^[15]

General characteristics

Crew: two, student and instructor
Length: 24 ft 9 in (7.54 m)
Wingspan: 32 ft 2 in (9.81 m)
Height: 9 ft 8 in (3 m)
Wing area: 298 sq ft (27.7 m²)
Empty weight: 1,931 lb (878 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 2,635 lb (1,200 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Continental R-670-5 seven-cylinder air-cooled radial engine, 220 hp (164 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 135 mph (117 knots, 217 km/h)
Cruise speed: 96 mph (83 knots, 155 km/h)
Service ceiling: 13,200 ft (4,024 m)
Climb to 10,000 ft (3,330 m): 17.3 min

References

Notes

Bibliography

Avis, Jim and Bowman, Martin. Stearman: A Pictorial History. Motorbooks, 1997. ISBN 0-7603-0479-3.
Bowers, Peter M. Boeing Aircraft since 1916. London:Putnam, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-804-6.
Phillips, Edward H. Stearman Aircraft: A Detailed History . Specialty Press, 2006. ISBN 1-58007-087-6.
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.

Videography

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

External links

Commons has media related to Boeing Stearman Kaydet.

Interview with Boeing PT-17 air show pilot John Mohr.

v t e Boeing model numbers

Aircraft	1 2 3 4 5 6 6D 6E 7 8 10 15 16 21 40 42 50 53 54 55 58 63 64 66 67 68 69 72 74 75 77 80 81 83 89 93 95 96 99 100 101 102 200 202 203 204 205 214 215 218 221 222 223 226 227 234 235 236 246 247 248 251 256 264 266 267 273 280 281 294 299 300 306 307 314 316 344 345 367 367-80 377 400 450 451 464 466 474 479 701 953 707 717 (i) 717 (ii) 720 727 733 737 739 747 757 767 777 787 2707

Turbine engines	502 520 550

Vessels	929

Other	Boeing Customer Codes

v t e USAAC/USAAF/USAF/Tri-service trainer aircraft

Advanced Trainer	AT-1 AT-2 AT-3 AT-4 AT-5 AT-6 AT-7 AT-8 AT-9 AT-10 AT-11 AT-12 AT-13 AT-14 AT-15 AT-16 AT-17 AT-18 AT-19 AT-20 AT-21 AT-22 AT-23 AT-24

Basic Combat	BC-1 BC-2 BC-3

Basic Trainer	BT-1 BT-2 BT-3 BT-4 BT-5 BT-6 BT-7 BT-8 BT-9 BT-10 BT-11 BT-12 BT-13 BT-14 BT-15 BT-16 BT-17

Primary Trainer (1924-1948)	PT-1 PT-2 PT-3 PT-4 PT-5 PT-6 PT-7 PT-8 PT-9 PT-10 PT-11 PT-12 PT-13 PT-14 PT-15 PT-16 PT-17 PT-18 PT-19 PT-20 PT-21 PT-22 PT-23 PT-24 PT-25 PT-26 PT-27

Trainer (1948-)	T-6 T-13A T-13B/D T-17 T-19 T-28 T-29 T-30 T-31 T-32 T-33 T-34 T-35 T-36 T-37 T-38 T-39 T-40 T-41 T-42 T-43 T-44 T-45 T-46 T-47 T-48 (I) T-48 (II) CT-49 T-50 T-51 T-52 T-53

Tri-Service sequence (1962)	T-1 T-2

Alternate sequence (1990-)	T-1 T-2¹ T-3 T-4¹ T-5¹ T-6

¹ Not assigned

v t e USN/USMC trainer aircraft designations 1922-1948

Boeing	NB N2B

Curtiss	NC¹ N2C

Piper	NE

Huff-Daland	HN

Howard	NH

North American	NJ

Keystone	NK

Langley	NL

Martin	NM¹ N2M

Naval Aircraft Factory	NN¹ N2N N3N N4N¹ XN5N

Spartan	NP

Fairchild	NQ

Ryan	NR

Stearman	NS N2S

New Standard	NT

Timm	NT² N2T

Consolidated	NY N2Y N3Y N4Y

¹ Not assigned ² Assigned to a different manufacturer's type

v t e Lists relating to aviation

General	Aircraft manufacturers Aircraft engines manufacturers Gliders Airlines defunct Airports Civil authorities Museums Registration prefixes Rotorcraft manufacturers Timeline

Military	Air forces Weapons Experimental Missiles Unmanned

Accidents/incidents	Commercial airliners by location Fatalities by death toll General aviation Military

Records	Airspeed Altitude Distance Endurance Firsts Large Most-produced aircraft Most-produced rotorcraft

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PT-17 Stearman

PT-17 Stearman

Contents

Design and development

Operational history

Post-War usage

Variants

Operators

Survivors

Specifications (PT-17)

See also

References

External links

Suggestions

Lafayette Regional Airport

Encyclopedia Article