Just one look and it’s obvious that the Stearman is an aircraft with nostalgic presence.  It became an unexpected success during World War II, yet it is one of the least known airplanes of the war.   

Built mostly in the 1940’s by Boeing’s Stearman division in Wichita,

Built mostly in the 1940’s by Boeing’s Stearman division in Wichita, Kansas.  The aircraft was named the Kaydet. Nice try! Hardly anyone called them Kaydet’s, and almost everyone called them Stearman’s, then and now.   

8,584 were built for the military.  It goes largely unrecognized for it’s contribution as the primary trainer for more U.S. WWII pilots than all other’s combined.  It probably holds the record for washing out more Cadet’s too.   

Navy aviation Cadet’s, whose trainers were a sunny yellow, and alleged to make crosswind landings either thrilling or terrifying, gave it another name.  Given a moments inattention after landing, a Stearman could ground-loop, which is not usually dangerous, except to a  pilot’s pride.  The Navy students called it the “Yellow Peril”. 

The Stearman stands nearly 10-feet tall, 25-feet in length, and 32-feet wing-tip-to-wing-tip.  It’s top speed, the specifications claim, is a 125-135 mph.  “Yeh, sure with a strong tail wind”.  Most agree it is actually about 100 mph.     

History of Stearman Trainers