The Boeing/Stearman PT-17 Primary Trainer of the Aces

Boeing’s early biplane building experience paid off with the Boeing/Stearman PT-17. Over
10,000 were built for military primary pilot training.

By:
Norm Goyer

Boeing never built many aircraft that could be described as General Aviation
sport aircraft. The closest would be their PT-17, a military primary trainer.
They built no four or even two-passenger planes that were sold to the civilian
market after 1930. These were not Boeing’s market niche, airliners, military
trainers and bombers were the aircraft of choice. So other than military pilots,
Boeings did not show up in many civilian pilot’s logbooks.

This flight of early PT-17s, flying in formation, was typical during the early years of
World War II. Thousands of pilots had to be trained in a hurry. Note the
different wheels on the early models.

Of the hundreds of planes I have flown, there are only two Boeings listed, and
they were very different. I flew the Navy Boeing N2S (PT-17) and the B-52
nuclear long range bomber. It would be difficult to find two more diverse
aircraft. The PT-17 was the last biplane Boeing built and the last tube and
fabric tail dragger primary trainer. The Beechcraft T-34 primary trainer was
next in line and is an all-metal, low-wing monoplane with a tricycle gear and a
flat six engine. The days of big radials, struts and flying wires were over.
But, the PT-17 lives on and will for many decades to come. Why? It was a super
good aircraft.

Note the rugged construction of the Kaydet. A Navy WAVE is shown being given an
indoctrination ride in a Boeing N2S.

In reality the Kaydet was an ideal primary military trainer. It was not easy to
fly; it had a narrow landing gear, impeded visibility forward, Gosport tubes for
communications and was slightly underpowered. This meant students had to fly the
wings not the engine. The anemic 220 hp Continental radial engine was adequate,
but could not fly the plane out of airspeed trouble. But the instructors loved
the airplane, because it was very good at protecting the student and the
instructor in case of a landing or take off accident, and there were many of
these. The fuselage was constructed of welded steel tubing reinforced at all
stations. The wings were strongly constructed and had numerous struts and flying
wires for bracing. What this meant was that the wings would slowly crumple
taking up the G forces of a botched landing or take off. If the plane nosed
over, as many did, the upper wing, with its sturdy cabane struts, would protect
the occupants from head injuries. If a young cadet managed to survive the
primary phase of his training, it proved that he could fly. They were then
transitioned into the fixed-gear, low-wing BT-13 basic trainer, then onto the
Texan for advanced training. This progressive system proved to be an ideal
military flight training method. If a student could fly the Texan, he could
safely fly any military fighter that the Army Air Force had in its inventory.
They all flew easier than the mighty Texan. I can personally vouch for that
fact.

The Red Baron aerobatic team performed in Super Stearmans before thousands of air show
fans. The team was recently disbanded due to the current financial situation.

Large numbers of restored Boeing PT-17s and N2Ss can be seen at any air show
where warbirds are exhibited or aerobatic teams perform. The Kaydet,  re-engined
with a Pratt & Whitney 450 hp engine, known as the Super Stearman, are in high
demand. These aircraft cost $11,000 new and now bring over ten times that amount
for a 60 year old airplane. The line forms to the right.

Specifications:

• 
  Crew: two, student and instructor

• 
  Length: 24 ft 3 in

• 
  
  Wingspan:
  32 ft 2 in

• 
  Height: 9 ft 2 in

• 
  Wing area: 297 sq ft

• 
  Empty weight: 1,936 lb

• 
  
  Max takeoff weight:
  2,717 lb

• 
  Powerplant:
  
  
  Continental R-670-5,
  220 hp

Performance

• 
  
  Maximum speed:
  124 mph

• 
  
  Cruise speed:
  106 mph

• 
  
  Range:
  505 mi

• 
  
  Service ceiling:
  11,200 ft

• 
  
  Rate of climb:
  840 ft/min

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