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. The ICAO Aircraft Type Designator for the Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 Kaydet is ST75.
On 19 April 2018, the 1942-built Boeing-Stearman A75N-1 s/n 75-5615 N68641 was photographed at Hoogeveen airfield in the
Netherlands. The N68641 is painted in the '004 Navy'colours and is powered by a 250 hp 7 cylinder Continental W670 series radial engine. The N68461
is registered in the US with Aerospace Trust Management LCC Trustee, Wilmington (DL) and is stationed at Lelystad Airport in the Netherlands.
The Stearman c/n 75-5615 was a standardised model in the c/n 755009/756026 series. This batch was produced either for the USAAF
as PT-13D or the Navy as N2S-5 Kaydet. The aircraft had dual PT-13D/N2S-5 designations and both USAAF serials 42-16486/17863
and USN BuNos 60887/61904. So the Boeing-Stearman N2S-5/PT-13D c/n 75-5615 was allotted both USN BuNo 61493 and USAAF 42-17452 serials.
It is not certain which military service the c/n 75-5615 operated. After being withdrawn from military service,
the aircraft was converted for agricultural spraying and registered N68641.
On 27 May 1975, when spraying crops, the Stearman N68641 was damaged during a forced landing after a complete engine
failure in Hallwood (VA). Despite the substantial damage the aircraft was rebuilt.
Luchtvaart déjà vu
