AAM - Stearman-vs-Boeing

A little history of the Stearman aircraft, model C2B. The first of these aircraft came off the assembly line in Wichita, Kansas in January of 1928. Over the years this model flourished and with changes from time to time was used for many purposes. In the 1930’s and 40’s nearly 10 thousand were built and used by the military to train pilots. In that mode it was designated the PT-17 (Primary trainer). Following WWII, many were converted for use in agriculture as crop dusters which required an engine with far more horsepower.

Stearman C2B

Performance
Model:	C2B → C3B		75 → N2S
Length:	24 ft	7.32 m	24 ft 9 in	7.54 m
Wingspan Upper:	35 ft	10.66 m	32 ft 2 in	9.80 m
Wingspan Lower:	28 ft	8.53 m	31 ft 2 in	x10.66 m
Height:	9 ft	2.75 m	9 ft 8 in	2.95 m
Empty Weight:	1,650 lb	748 kg	1,931 lb	876 kg
Gross weight:	2,650 lb	1,202 kg	2,635 lb	1,195 kg
Fuel capacity:	?? Gal	?? L	46 US Gal	170 L
Powerplant:	Wright J-5		Continental R-670 Lycoming R-680
	220 hp	164 kW	220 hp	164 kW
Max Speed:	126 mph	204 km/h	124 mph	200 km/h
Cruise Speed:	108 mph	175 km/h	96 mph	154 km/h
Range:	620 miles	1,004 km
Ceiling:			13,200 ft	4,000 m

	C3B - Top wing overhangs the lower wing by 3.5 feet There is a strut that goes from the main wheel axle to the centerline of the fuselage
	Kaydet - Top wing is only slightly longer than the lower wing Single massive strut from the wheel to the fuselage

	C3B - Landing gear struts above and below the fuselage Relatively squared off tail, flat at the back
	C3B - Landing gear has 6 struts per side plus flying wires going to the outboard wing struts
	Kaydet - Single massive strut from the wheel to the fuselage Rounded off tail

	C3B - Different length wings Top wing center section is straight, can't see front cockpit Rounded horizontal tail section, no brace wire
	Kaydet - Same length wings Top wing center section is cut out, can see front cockpit Longer horizontal tail section straight leading edge, two brace wires

Stearman Production Numbers

The Alaska Aviation Museum has an early model Stearman. It started as a C2-B with a Wright J-4 engine. It was converted to a C3-B with a Wright J-5 engine. There were only a few hundred of the early model airplanes made.

In 1934, Stearman became part of Boeing. The Model 75 “Kaydet” came out. It had lots of other model numbers along the lines of alphabetic character 75, or alphabetic character 75N1, or PT-17, or PT-13. It was a primary trainer for the Army and Navy in World War II, over 10,000 were built. There is about a 97% chance that when there is a reference to a "Stearman", they are referring to a 1930s or 1940s Boeing built plane.

That ratio is reflected in the numbers of the models that are still registered with the FAA.

Stearman Production

Model	Date	Production	Comments
C1 C2	1926 Oct	4	Stearman Aircraft Corporation founded in Venice, California
	1927 Sep		A new Stearman Aircraft Corporation was created in Wichita, Kansas
C2B	1928 Apr		AAM Stearman N5415 - Build date: 4/11/1928 Serial Number 121 With a Wright J-4-B engine
C2s	1929	133
C3B		≈116	Introduced in 1928, C3B Sport Commercial 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J5 radial engine.
	1929		Sold the company to the United Aircraft and Transport Corporation.
C4	1929	≈41	Speedmail Model in Wichita, Kansas from September 1929 to August 1930.
C3Rs	1931	≈39	Last of the C3Rs built in Oct 1931
	1934 Sep		Federal anti-trust legislation broke up the United Aircraft and Transport Corporation. Boeing became a separate business. Stearman was made a subsidiary.
75	1934+	≈10,620	Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 Kaydet The “Kaydet” would become the primary trainer aircraft for the United States military during World War II.

FAA Registry Stearman C3-B as of 2019/06/26

Ser#	N-Nbr	Date	Owner	City	State	Engine
104	N3440	1927	Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum	Hood River	OR	P&W R-985
121	N5415	1928	Alaska Aviation Museum	Anchorage	AK	Wright J-5
166	N5095M		Museum Of Flight Foundation	Seattle	WA
169	N6438		Yellowstone Aviation Inc	Jackson	WY	Wright J-5
192	N6494		Gregersen Scott T	Pocatello	ID
204	N9067		Kansas Aviation Museum	Wichita	KS
207	N6496	1928	Williams C M	Kennesaw	GA	Cont Motors W670
221	N8811	1929	Alfred And Lois Kelch Aviation Museum Inc	Brodhead	WI	Wright J-5
241	N8835	1928	George Mike	Springfield	IL	Cont Motors W670
244	N8830	1928	Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum	Hood River	OR

- - -

FAA Registry Boeing 'A75' as of 2019/06/26

Model	Number
A75	92
A75L3	35
A75L300	33
A75N1	60
A75N1(PT17)	796
B75	16
B75N1	238
D75N1	41
E75	273
E75N1	81

Total:	1,665

How can you tell that this is an early model Stearman?
From the left rear quarter, we can see that the fuselage is flat sided,
There is a foot well and an external foot step to get into the pilot's cockpit.
Watch out for the brace wire when getting into the front cockpit.
There is a small baggage compartment built into the side of the fuselage in back of the pilot.

Kaydet - From the left rear quarter, we have a round fuselage
The upper wing is further forward and cut out over the front cockpit
No foot well or external foot step to get into the pilot's cockpit.
Brace wire is well forward for getting into the front cockpit.
There is a large baggage compartment built into the top of the fuselage in back of the pilot.

Boeing_PT-17_Stearman_(N746BJ).jpg — © Raimond Spekking / CC BY-SA 4.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
This is a late model Stearman. Notice the round fuselage and the single large strut going down to the wheel.