Boeing-Stearman PT-13D Kaydet
United States — USAAF WW II Biplane Primary Trainer

Archive Photos 1

1942 Boeing-Stearman PT-13D Kaydet (N2PP, AF 42-17573, s/n 75-3412, Model A75N1, Marked as N2S-5) on display (9/29/2003) at the Kalamazoo Aviation History Museum, Portage, Michigan (Photos by John Shupek)

1942 Boeing-Stearman PT-13D Kaydet (AF 42-17800) on display (5/20/2001) at The National Museum of the United States Air Force, WPAFB, Dayton, Ohio (Photos by John Shupek)

Overview 2

The Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 is a biplane, of which 10,346 were built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s as a military trainer aircraft. Stearman became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934. Widely known as the Stearman, Boeing-Stearman or Kaydet, it served as a Primary Trainer (PT) for the USAAF, as a basic trainer for the USN (as the NS1 & N2S), and with the RCAF as the Kaydet throughout World War II. After World War II, thousands of surplus aircraft were sold on the civil market. In the immediate post-war years they became popular as crop dusters and as sports planes.

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.

The first service training version of the Stearman Model 75 was the PT-13 (Lycoming R-680-5 engine) which was ordered by the Army in 1935. Then followed the PT-17 (Continental R-670-5 engine) in 1940, the PT-18 (Jacobs R-7554 engine) and the PT-27. All were similar, except for the engines fitted and certain minor equipment charges, with the exception of the PT-27 that was built for use in Canada. The PT-27 had the same airframe and power plant as the PT-17 but was fitted with cockpit enclosures and heating, night-flying equipment, blind-flying hood and instruments, etc.

Of the U.S. Navy versions, the N2S-1 and N2S-4 (Continental R-670-4 engine) are similar to the PT-17, the N2S-2 (Lycoming R-680-8 engine) is similar to the PT-13A, the N2S-3 (Continental R-670-4 engine) is similar to the PT-17A, and the N2S-5 (Lycoming R-680 engine) is identical to the PT-13D, these last two aircraft eventually being standardized for unified production for both services.

Production of the Kaydet was completed in February 1945, after 10,346 had been built.

Variants 2

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

The US Navy had several versions including:

Operators 2

Survivors 2

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

Specifications and Performance Data (Model 75) 3

Type

Wings

Fuselage

Tail Unit

Landing Gear

Power Plant

Accommodation

Dimensions

Weights and Loadings

Performance

References

  1. Shupek, John. Photos, copyright © 200, 2003 Skytamer Images. All Rights Reserved
  2. Wikipedia, Boeing-Stearman Model 75
  3. Bridgman, Leonard, "Boeing: The Boeing (Stearman 75) Kaydet." Jane’s All The World’s Aircraft 1945/6. Sampson Low Marston & Company Limited, London, 1946. pp. 215c

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