Air Power Series>1:48 die-cast display model>Stearman PT-17>HA8110

General Background

The Stearman Aircraft Company produced a bi-plane trainer-aircraft called the Model 70. In 1935 the USN ordered the Model 70 with a Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine designated the NS-1. Boeing Aircraft Company bought Stearman and gave the Model 70 a Lycoming R-680-5 radial engine making it a Model 75. In 1936 the U.S. Army Air Corps placed an order for the Model 75 and designated it PT-13. With a Continental R-670-5 engine it became the PT-17. The RCAF labeled it PT-27 Kaydet with Kaydet becoming the universally accepted name.

The Aircraft

Japan had invested in Manchuria and built the Japan South Manchuria Railway. Needing more territory for its increasing population, Japan sabotaged a portion of this railway in order to justify invading Manchuria in 1931. China had no great aviation force to defend itself so the Soviet Union supplied aircraft. In 1941 when the U.S.A. entered WWII they too supplied China with aircraft. There were 150 Boeing PT-17 Stearmans supplied with serials from 42-15896 to 42- 16045 and some training schools were located in Lahore Pakistan as well as in the U.S.

Specifications :

Crew:	2 x Student Pilot and Instructor
PT-17 Produced:	3,500 +
Number of all variants produced:	10,000 +
Performance	1 x Continental R-670-5 7 cylinder radial engine producing 220 hp
Maximum Speed:	124 mph
Climb Rate:	840 ft/min
Service Ceiling:	11,200 ft
Range:	505 miles
Dimensions
Length:	24 ft 3 in
Wingspan:	32 ft 2 in
Height:	9 ft 2 in
Weights:
Empty:	1,936 lbs
Maxium Takeoff:	2,717 lbs