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The Boeing-Stearman Model 75 "Kaydet" two-seat biplane is a primary trainer. The Stearman Model 75
was evolved from the Stearman Model 6 or YPT-9 Cloudboy as a private venture by the Stearman Aircraft Company
of Wichita. Model 73, the prototype of the Kaydet flew first on 26 November 1934. The Kaydet became a success: it was
ordered by the U.S.Navy and the U.S.Army for use as a trainer. The Navy named the Boeing 75 the NS-1, later
evolved into the N2S series. The Army aircraft was the PT-13, later evolved into the PT-17 and PT-18. The
Kaydet variants were sold for military and civilian users outside the USA to countries like Canada and China.
Boeing built 8584 Model 75 in all versions, plus the equivalent of 2000 more in spares. Lloyd C. Stearman founded
the Stearman Aircraft Company in 1926. In 1929 Lloyd Stearman sold his company to the 'United Aircraft and
Transport Corporation'. In September 1934 the group was split up and Boeing Air Transport, pulled out of this group
and took the Stearman Aircraft Company with it as wholly owned subsidiary. The Boeing-Stearman Model 75 and its
variants were manufactured by the Stearman Aircraft Company in Wichita, Kansas from 1934 through 1945. In 1938
the Stearman Aircraft Company became the Stearman Aircraft Division of the Boeing Aircraft Company. Generally,
all the Stearman Kaydet airframes built are the same with the only major difference being the engine installed.
Due to the Kaydet's solid construction and reliable low speed handling, after the war over 2000 airframes were
converted for agricultural spraying.
The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Boeing-Stearman E75 Kaydet is ST75. |
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The Stearman s/n 75-5164 was a standardised model in the s/n 75-4704/75-6026 series built by Boeing. This batch was planned either for the
U.S.A.A.F. as PT-13D or the Navy as N2S-5 Kaydet. The aircraft were painted with an Army Technical Data Block with USAAF serial and designation;
aircraft delivered to the US Navy had the designation N2S-5 and the BuNo painted on the vertical tail as well. Around 1942, the Stearman Model
E75 MSN 75-5164 was delivered to the United States Navy as a N2S-5 with BuNo 61042 or to the United States Army Air Force as a PT-13D with s/n
42-17001. However the plane is stenciled on the front fuselage as a PT-18 with the serial number of 41-61042 (incorporating the BuNo), it's not
really known when and where this Boeing-Stearman E75 Kaydet served with the U.S. Navy or the USAAF. After being withdrawn from military service
the aircraft entered the civil register. In 1964, the Boeing-Stearman E75 Kaydet was registered N1391V with a privat owner in Shady Grove, PA.
On 23 April 1971, the Stearman received it's CofA as E75 s/n 755164. On 1 July 1971, the N1391V was registered to with a new owner in Roswell,
and in 1978 with an owner in Omaha, NE. On 18 April 1980, the E75 Kaydet N1391V was damaged when the passenger applied the brakes during taxy
causing the propeller to strike the ground at Santa Ana Airport, CA. On 17 October 1992, the N1391V was registered to an owner in Redland, CA.
This owner painted the Boeing-Stearman E75 Kaydet N1391V in the 'USAAF 317' colors. On 30 March 2004, the aircraft was registered with an owner
in Burlingame, CA. On 15 August 2004, the aircraft was once again nosed over, this time at San Carlos, CA, when the pilot failed to maintain
directional control using excessive braking during landing. On 23 September 2006, the Boeing-Stearman E75 Kaydet N1391V was registered with an owner
in San Carlos, CA. On 6 February 2009, registration N1391V was cancelled as exported to New Zealand. On 17 March 2009, the certificate of airworthiness
for the E75 s/n 75-5164 was issued and the same day the airframe was registered ZK-RDK with Richard David King, Ashburton. On 17 September 2014,
registration ZK-RDK was cancelled and on 23 September 2014 the aircraft was registered G-CIJN with the same owner as in New Zealand and based in
the Algarve, Portugal. On 14 February 2019, the Kaydet G-CIJN was registered with P. Fernandes in Colchester, UK.
On 14 May 2024, Boeing-Stearman
E75 Kaydet G-CIJN was seen in 'USAAF 317' colors at Hoogeveen airfield (EHHO), on its way to Itzehoe (EDHF). |
