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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,
over 2000 airframes were converted for agricultural spraying after the war. |
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Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 s/n 75-4645 G-IIYI is operated by the 'AeroSuperBatics Wingwalking Team'. Around 1943, the
airframe was constructed as a PT-17 Kaydet Model A75N-1 with the USAAF s/n 42-16482, as part of a batch built in the
s/n 75-4059/75-4886 series, for which the USAAF serials 42-15896/16723 were assigned. Further details and the history
in military service about this airframe are not known yet. On 13 February 1992, the first steps in it's civil life were
recorded, when a Certificate of airworthiness was issued as NX49943 for the Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 s/n 75-4645 . On 8
July 1993, the A75N-1 was registered N49943 with Met Air Lease Inc, and on 20 March 1996, the Certificate of
airworthiness for the N49943 was issued. On 3 August 1999, the Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 N49943 was registered with Met
Air Lease Inc, Fairfield, NJ. On 31 July 2008, the aircraft was registered with Merkel Air Inc Owner Trustee, Wilmington,
DE. In service with Merkel Air Inc Owner Trustee, the N49943 was one of the Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 bi-planes used by
AeroSuperBatics for wing-walking, since 2011 mostly known as the Breitling Wingwalkers, at that time sponsored by Breitling.
On 13 August 2018, registration N49943 was cancelled as exported to the UK, and on 14 August 2018, the
Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 s/n 75-4645 was registered G-IIYI with V.S.E. Norman The Engine Shed, Rendcom. The aircraft is
powered by a 400 hp 9 cylinder Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior R-985-AN-14B air-cooled radial engine. |
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