Boeing Model 75 Stearman

Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Stearman Model: 75. Nickname: Kaydet or Stearman
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: Single engine piston

Aircraft Experience
> As of: 7/19/2026
> Number of Hours Flown: 1
> Number of Times Flown: 2
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: —

First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 4
> Date First Flown: 1/25/1981
> Location First Flown: Roscoe Field, Pensacola, FL (82J)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: Unknown

Recollections: The Stearman was the basic trainer for the US Army Air Corps and US Navy before and throughout WWII.

While attending pilot training with the Navy (my first flight in a T-28 was the month before I flew the Stearman) I managed to talk my way into a Stearman ride.  I remember only one thing: that the stearman I flew (which my logbook says was “76552”, no idea if that was an N# or serial number) had a lockable tailwheel.  At that point, I’d never flown in a tailwheel aircraft so this didn’t mean much to me.  I later learned that the Navy Stearmans had a full swivel type tailwheel with a lock (though many have since been modified to steerable). I guess my first tailwheel experience being a Navy Stearman was a predictor of future flying!

I have, unfortunately, only flown a Stearman one other time, in 1992 when my brother and I “traded rides” with a Stearman owner (he flew in John’s V-77 and I got to fly in the Stearman).  My logbook shows no landings in the Stearman, so there’s a future goal!