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The Boeing-Stearman Model 75 "Kaydet" two-seat biplane is a primary trainer. The Stearman Model 75
was evolved from the Stearman Model 6 or YPT-9 Cloudboy as a private venture by the Stearman Aircraft Company
of Wichita. Model 73, the prototype of the Kaydet flew first on 26 November 1934. The Kaydet became a success: it was
ordered by the U.S.Navy and the U.S.Army for use as a trainer. The Navy named the Boeing 75 the NS-1, later
evolved into the N2S series. The Army aircraft was the PT-13, later evolved into the PT-17 and PT-18. The
Kaydet variants were sold for military and civilian users outside the USA to countries like Canada and China.
Boeing built 8584 Model 75 in all versions, plus the equivalent of 2000 more in spares. Lloyd C. Stearman founded
the Stearman Aircraft Company in 1926. In 1929 Lloyd Stearman sold his company to the 'United Aircraft and
Transport Corporation'. In September 1934 the group was split up and Boeing Air Transport, pulled out of this group
and took the Stearman Aircraft Company with it as wholly owned subsidiary. The Boeing-Stearman Model 75 and its
variants were manufactured by the Stearman Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas from 1934 through 1945. In 1938
the Stearman Aircraft Company became the Stearman Aircraft Division of the Boeing Aircraft Company. Generally,
all the Stearman Kaydet airframes built are the same with the only major difference being the engine installed.
Due to the Kaydet's solid construction and reliable low speed handling,
over 2000 airframes were converted for agricultural spraying after the war. |
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Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 s/n 75-7027 PH-TOX is operated by 'Vliegbedrijf Tom van der Meulen' out of Oostwold (Oldambt),
where it is available for training, demos and fun flights. In 1943, the airframe was constructed as a PT-13B Kaydet Model
A75N-1 and taken on strenght with the United States Navy as a N2-S3 Kaydet with BuNo 07423. In the 1950s, after the '07423'
was withdrawn from military service, the bi-plane was sold for $ 200 to a crop duster; registered N60839 and used as a
cropsprayer in the Mississippi delta. Further details about this period are unknown, not even until when the biplane really
flew as cropsprayer, only that it was stored in a kind of chicken shed nearly without maintenance, after it was withdrawn
from use as a cropsprayer. On 12 March 1982, the first steps in it's new life were recorded, when a Certificate of airworthiness
was issued as N60839 for the Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 s/n 75-7027. On 12 March 1990, the Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 N60839 was registered
with Marsh Aviation International, Mesa, AZ. The upperwings of the Stearman were replaced and radios were built in. In 1990, the
airframe was sold and shipped to the Netherlands where it flew until 1996. At that time the airframe needed so much maintenance
that is was better to restore the aircraft as a whole. In 1996, restauration by Aeroservice started at Lelystad-Airport. On 1
January 2012, after a lengthy restoration that took more than eighteen years, certificate of airworthiness for N60839 was issued,
and the fully restored Boeing Stearman N60839 flew for the first time again on 19 June 2012. Although on 13 January 2012,
registration PH-TOX was reserved for the aircraft by T. van der Meulen, Oostwold, the Stearman remained registered N60839 in
the USA. After its first flight at Lelystad Airport, the N60983 was flown to oostwold, where the restauration of the aircraft
was completed. On 15 July 2014, registration N60839 was cancelled as exported to the Netherlands, but the same day, registration
N60839 was restored and on 1 August 2014, the N60839 was registered with Joe Brewer, Oostwold, Netherlands. On 15 December 2014,
registration N60839 was cancelled as exported to Netherlands and on 19 December 2014, the Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 was registered
PH-TOX in the Netherlands. The aircraft is powered by a seven-cylinder four-cycle radial Continental W670-6N air-cooled radial
engine. Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 PH-TOX was seen at Oostwold airfield on 29 June 2019. |
Luchtvaart déjà vu
