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STEARMAN |
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| USA |
Originally Stearman Aircraft Company, formed at Venice, California, by Lloyd Stearman in 1927. Stearman was already known in connection with Laird, Swallow, and Travel Air; the new company was formed by consolidating Lyle- Hoyt Aircraft Corporation (formerly West Coast distributor of Travel Air) and technical ability of Stearman. Factory soon moved to Wichita, Kansas, building private and commercial aircraft and becoming part of United Aircraft and Transport Corporation. Types built included three-seaters, trainers and mailplanes. On break-up of United combine in 1934, Stearman became a Boeing subsidiary and in 1939 the Wichita Division of Boeing. Nevertheless, biplane trainers built throughout Second World War were persistently called Stearman. Basic type was Model 75, dating from 1936 and having numerous service designations; production totaled about 10,000. Name Kaydet (originally Canadian) not favored in U.S.A., where Army models had PT and Navy models NS designations. Some versions had enclosed cockpits. After Second World War some 4,000 of Model 75 converted for cropdusting.
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 All the World's Rotorcraft |
