Old Bob’s Stearman

Old Bob’s Stearman


US Specialty Insurance Company


History:
The Boeing PT-17 Stearman was a Primary Trainer for both the Army Air Corp and Navy during World War Two. The Navy trainer designation was N2S. The Stearman is a two place tandem Trainer with the student pilot sitting in the back seat. It is flown solo from the back seat. The many World War two student pilots first solo was in this aircraft. The instructor in the front seat was sitting close to the center of gravity of the Stearman. When the student soloed, balance of the aircraft remained when the instructor got out of the aircraft. Student pilots would learn basic flying skills in the Stearman attitude flying, turns, stalls, basic aerobatics, basic formation training, and many other skills were all learned in the Stearman. Once the student pilot mastered these skills they would move on to the Basic Trainers to further refine their skills. The Stearman was commonly used as a crop duster after World War Two. This practical use for the Stearman help keep the aircraft viable. Today most Stearman are used as sport aircraft.

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Specifications

Registration Number Date of Manufacture
N3977A 1943
Aircraft Role Nickname
Primary Trainer “Yellow Peril”
Aircraft Type: Wingspan:
Boeing/Stearman N2S 32 feet 2 inches
Overall length: Empty weight:
24 feet 3 inches 1936 US pounds
Gross weight: Fuel capacity:
2717 US pounds 40 US Gallons
Oil capacity Engine type:
Single 220 hp Continental R670-5 radial piston engine
Propeller type: Max Speed
Sensenich 2 blade wood propeller 124 mph
Rate of Climb Cruise Speed
500 feet/minute 95 mph
Service Ceiling Number of Crew
11,200 feet Two Tandem
Armament Bomb Load
None None
Number Built Number Surviving
13000+ 1000+

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Photos

 

Old-Bob-Family-Tullahoma-2007-033

 

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Restoration
This Stearman was restored by Pete Jones in Cleveland, Mississippi. They actually set up a production line to rebuild Stearmans. The fuselage is made up of steel tubes covered in a Dacron cloth. The wings are made out of wood covered in the same type of cloth. The technology used to build the Stearman is more like aircraft were built during the early 1930’s rather than 1940’s technology. The steel tube fuselage provided the students with a very safe environment vs. the all wood aircraft of the 1920s.


Restoration Images

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Links
http://www.warbirds-eaa.org
http://www.warbirdsquadron4.org
http://www.stearman.net
http://www.stearmanflyin.com/
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Printable QR Codes for: Old Bob’s Stearman:

QR code: 500 x 500 px
QR code: Avery style 6578 full sheet

Please read before printing the Avery style labels
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