The Stearman was a primary trainer flown by the United States and several Allied nations during World War II.
From 1934 until February 1945, the Stearman Aircraft Company, a division of the Boeing Aircraft Company, built a total of 8,428 model 75 airplanes for the U.S. Army and U.S. Navy for use as primary trainers. During this 11-year span, more American military pilots learned to fly in the Stearman model 75 primary trainers than any other airplane.
The Army and Navy both used the trusty Stearman where they were referred to primarily as a PT-17 with the Army and a N2S-3 with the Navy. Although the Stearman was challenging to fly in the hands of a student pilot with no previous experience, it allowed instructors to quickly evaluate student performance and move those who were not progressing into other jobs. Made primarily out of wood and fabric with a steel tube fuselage, the Stearman was one of the strongest trainers built during World War II. After the war, many Stearmans soldiered on for decades as crop dusters and air show performers. The remaining examples of this classic aircraft are now sought by collectors worldwide.
Both LSFM Stearmans spent a long post-war career as a crop duster before their most recent restoration. Flight experiences are available in the Stearman where you can experience the barnstorming era of the iconic open-cockpit biplane. Contact the museum for more information and to reserve your unforgettable flight.
