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Stearman Aircraft Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer in Wichita, Kansas. Although the company designed a range of other aircraft, it is most known for producing the Model 75, which is commonly known simply as the "Stearman" or "Boeing Stearman".
History
Lloyd Stearman established the Stearman Aircraft Corporation in 1927. Initially, the company was based at Venice, California, where four C1 and C2 biplanes were built. The factory was then established at Wichita, where the new model Stearman C3 and Stearman 4 Speedmail were constructed. Two years later, he sold it to the United Aircraft and Transport Corporation.
In September 1934, United was forced to separate its airline and aircraft manufacturing operations. At this time, Boeing became a separate business once again, and Stearman was made a subsidiary of it. Stearman officially ceased to operate as a brand at this point, but it was at this same time that the Stearman plant created its most successful and enduring product, the Model 75 "Kaydet". The Kaydet would become the primary trainer aircraft for the US military during World War II.
In 2005, Boeing sold the civil portion of the former Stearman operations to Onex, forming Spirit AeroSystems, although they have retained the military operations.
A national Stearman fly-in is held every year around Labor Day in Galesburg, IL.
Products
- Boeing-Stearman Model 75 (PT-17, N2S Kaydet)
- Stearman Cloudboy
- Stearman M-2 Speedmai
- Stearman C2
- Stearman C3
- Stearman 4
- Stearman XOSS
- Stearman XA-21
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Boeing Company. Pedigree of Champions: Boeing Since 1916, Third Edition. Seattle, WA: The Boeing Company, 1969.
- Bowers, Peter M. Boeing aircraft since 1916. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1989. ISBN 0-85177-804-6.
- Simpson, Rod. Airlife’s World Aircraft. London: Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001. ISBN 1-84037-115-3.