Raider Fan Loc: Lake County, IL.

"The Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 is a biplane used as a military trainer aircraft, of which at least 10,626 were built in the United States during the 1930's and 1940's. Stearman Aircraft became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934. Widely known as the Stearman, Boeing Stearman or Kaydet, it served as a primary trainer for the USAAF, the USN (as the NS & N2S), and with the RCAF as the Kaydet throughout World War II. After the conflict was over, thousands of surplus aircraft were sold on the civilian market. In the immediate postwar years they became popular as crop dusters, sports planes, and for aerobatic and wing walking use in airshows.

After World War II, the thousands of PT (primary trainer)-17 Stearmans were auctioned off to civilians and former pilots. Many were modified for crop dusting use, with a hopper for pesticide or fertilizer fitted in place of the front cockpit. Additional equipment included pumps, spray bars, and nozzles mounted below the lower wings. A popular approved modification to increase the maximum takeoff weight and climb performance involved fitting a larger Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine and a constant speed propeller."(courtesy of Wikipedia)

I captured this Stearman and the acrobat this past summer at the Rockford, IL. airshow. The skies were very overcast and it took me some time to clean them up to a point where they were worthy of showing.

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Blue Ribbon winner in a juried show for action

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Done for the day!

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ebbote Loc: Hockley, Texas

Nice series RF.

Nikon_DonB Loc: Chicago

Very nice. Ever go to the Air and Water Show by the Lake in August? When is the Rockford show?

bcheary Loc: Jacksonville, FL

Very good series. :thumbup: :thumbup:

Leicaflex Loc: Cymru

Interesting series of photographs - Thank you for posting.

Raider Fan Loc: Lake County, IL.

No, there are just too many people that go to the lake front show and I do not handle very large crowds very well. The Rockford Air Show was in June. Much smaller crowds and you are able to get better shots. Usually a pretty decent lineup. We had the RCAF Snowbirds, and The Thunderbird's this year but like I said it was very overcast with a low ceiling.

Gary Truchelut Loc: Coldspring, TX

great shots, love the old Stearman planes. My father-in -law flew one in his youth.

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

A very beautiful set!!! Love the older planes. The last few shots are my pics! Thanks for the info too!
Erv
Oh! the guy on top is NUTS!!!!:):)

dennis2146 Loc: Eastern Idaho

Wonderful photos. As a kid I used to see bi-planes pretty often. Of course this was the late 40's-early 50's. They are just a beautiful aircraft and your excellent photos show this Stearman off splendidly.

I have no idea how much money the wing walker earns but it is not enough at any price.

Dennis

flip1948 Loc: Hamden, CT

I worked for a structural engineer here in CT who was a fighter pilot in WWII.

Up until about 6 years ago he owned a Stearman painted in the correct US Navy trainer paint job. His wife made him quit flying as he was getting a bit old....he's 86 now.

It's too bad my laptop is currently out of commission as I have a couple of pics of it on the hard drive.

geezershutterbug Loc: Southwest Michigan

Love the old planes. During the Big War my dad was an engine rebuilder at Continental Motors. A man I knew had purchased a Stearman and it would not start. My dad said tell him to set the firing order like this and wrote it down. It started right up. The Thunderbird tail is a nice touch in one photo. Great shots.

Kingmapix Loc: Mesa, Arizona

Stearman: one of the great airplanes in our history.

gemlenz Loc: Gilbert Arizona

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