Boeing/Stearman N2S-4 (PT-17) Kaydet
In the post-World War I boom for cropdusters, war surplus aircraft such as the venerable JR-7 Jenny were in high demand. In 1933, Lloyd Stearman designed a dedicated cropduster and aerobatic aircraft, the Model 70. The aircraft was meant to be easy to fly, robust, and maneuverable. Stearman sold the company soon thereafter, first to United Aircraft (later United Airlines), which in turn sold it to Boeing. The Stearman name remained associated with the aircraft, and subsequent models were often known simply as “Stearmans.”
While the Model 70 sold well on the civilian market, its viceless handling characteristics led the US Army Air Corps to purchase it as a primary trainer, designating it PT-13. Production switched to the PT-17 in 1938, which differed from the PT-13 only in that it had a Continental rather than Lycoming engine. The design of the propeller gave the Stearman a distinctive sound no matter what engine it used.
With the outbreak of World War II, PT-17s were Lend-Leased to the Royal Canadian Air Force, also as primary trainers, and were nicknamed Kaydet by the Canadians. Once the United States was involved in the war, PT-13s, PT-17s, and Navy N2S “Yellow Peril” trainers were usually the first aircraft a prospective pilot saw, flew in, and soloed in, with the instructor sitting behind the student. They performed quietly and superbly, and eventually over 10,000 were produced in various marks for the Allies, training thousands of pilots (and washing out thousands more) before the trainees moved on to more powerful aircraft, such as the T-6 Texan and AT-11 Kansan.
At the end of World War II, with air forces beginning the switch to jets, the Kaydet was seen as no longer necessary and sold off, often at ridiculously low prices, as war surplus. Thousands were bought by private citizens and returned to their original role of cropdusters, or used as aerobatic aircraft, or just used for casual flying. As a result, several hundred still exist today as flyable aircraft. Some militaries continued to use them as trainers well into the modern era: Colombia retired their PT-17s around 2005, while the Mexican Air Force retains four on official strength as demonstration aircraft.
Though some PT-17s are painted as N2S aircraft in US Navy service, this aircraft is actually a N2S-4, delivered as Bureau Number 55657 during World War II. Its service record is hard to find, but it served throughout the war as a trainer and was, like most Kaydets, declared surplus at the end of the war. The historic record goes a bit cold between 1945 and 1977, when it was registered as N52558. In 1996, it was bought by the Commemorative Air Force's Arizona Wing and painted as a Navy training aircraft. It was involved in a serious crash at Mesa in 1999, but was quickly repaired and back on the airshow circuit a year later.
I got this picture in May 2019 at the CAF Arizona Wing's restoration hangar. 55657 has been repainted from the overall yellow scheme to a prewar gray and yellow, with a new registration. USAAC PT-17s are pretty common, but Navy N2S-4s aren't, so I couldn't resist getting a picture of this fine restoration.
Boeing/Stearman N2S-4 (PT-17) Kaydet
In the post-World War I boom for cropdusters, war surplus aircraft such as the venerable JR-7 Jenny were in high demand. In 1933, Lloyd Stearman designed a dedicated cropduster and aerobatic aircraft, the Model 70. The aircraft was meant to be easy to fly, robust, and maneuverable. Stearman sold the company soon thereafter, first to United Aircraft (later United Airlines), which in turn sold it to Boeing. The Stearman name remained associated with the aircraft, and subsequent models were often known simply as “Stearmans.”
While the Model 70 sold well on the civilian market, its viceless handling characteristics led the US Army Air Corps to purchase it as a primary trainer, designating it PT-13. Production switched to the PT-17 in 1938, which differed from the PT-13 only in that it had a Continental rather than Lycoming engine. The design of the propeller gave the Stearman a distinctive sound no matter what engine it used.
With the outbreak of World War II, PT-17s were Lend-Leased to the Royal Canadian Air Force, also as primary trainers, and were nicknamed Kaydet by the Canadians. Once the United States was involved in the war, PT-13s, PT-17s, and Navy N2S “Yellow Peril” trainers were usually the first aircraft a prospective pilot saw, flew in, and soloed in, with the instructor sitting behind the student. They performed quietly and superbly, and eventually over 10,000 were produced in various marks for the Allies, training thousands of pilots (and washing out thousands more) before the trainees moved on to more powerful aircraft, such as the T-6 Texan and AT-11 Kansan.
At the end of World War II, with air forces beginning the switch to jets, the Kaydet was seen as no longer necessary and sold off, often at ridiculously low prices, as war surplus. Thousands were bought by private citizens and returned to their original role of cropdusters, or used as aerobatic aircraft, or just used for casual flying. As a result, several hundred still exist today as flyable aircraft. Some militaries continued to use them as trainers well into the modern era: Colombia retired their PT-17s around 2005, while the Mexican Air Force retains four on official strength as demonstration aircraft.
Though some PT-17s are painted as N2S aircraft in US Navy service, this aircraft is actually a N2S-4, delivered as Bureau Number 55657 during World War II. Its service record is hard to find, but it served throughout the war as a trainer and was, like most Kaydets, declared surplus at the end of the war. The historic record goes a bit cold between 1945 and 1977, when it was registered as N52558. In 1996, it was bought by the Commemorative Air Force's Arizona Wing and painted as a Navy training aircraft. It was involved in a serious crash at Mesa in 1999, but was quickly repaired and back on the airshow circuit a year later.
I got this picture in May 2019 at the CAF Arizona Wing's restoration hangar. 55657 has been repainted from the overall yellow scheme to a prewar gray and yellow, with a new registration. USAAC PT-17s are pretty common, but Navy N2S-4s aren't, so I couldn't resist getting a picture of this fine restoration.