BOEING/STEARMAN

The Boeing-Stearman Model 75, also known as the Stearman Kaydet, is a biplane that was originally used as a military trainer aircraft. The aircraft was produced in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s, with at least 8,584 units built, including the model 70, 75, and 76. Stearman Aircraft became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934. It served as a primary trainer for the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy (as the NS and N2S), and with the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Kaydet throughout World War II. Following the war, many of these surplus aircraft were sold on the civilian market, where they gained popularity as crop dusters, sports planes, and for aerobatic and wing walking use in air shows. The Kaydet was a conventional biplane of rugged construction, with a large, fixed tailwheel undercarriage, and accommodation for the student and instructor in open cockpits in tandem. After the war, the aircraft was frequently modified for use in crop dusting, with a hopper for pesticide or fertilizer fitted in place of the front cockpit. These modifications included pumps, spray bars, and nozzles mounted below the lower wings. Today, the Boeing-Stearman Model 75 is regarded as a classic aircraft and remains a popular choice for aerobatic and airshow performances.