📸 The Boeing Stearman Model 75 Kaydet N56938

The aircraft was produced in 1941 at the Stearman factory in Wichita. Delivered to Canada, it was used for pilot training.

Demobilized, it was returned to the United States and retired in 1946. Purchased in 1947, it began a career in agricultural spraying. The original Continental W-670 engine was then replaced by a Pratt & Whitney R-685 and a spray tank mounted in the front position.

After serving in several aerial work companies, the aircraft was acquired by Peter Metz in 1985, who undertook to restore it to its original configuration. In 1993, he sold it to Scott Tomlinson, who was still being restored, from whom we purchased it in 2016.

Restoration
The aircraft was then completely disassembled, with the parts scattered across different crates. Each part was inspected, repaired if necessary, and stored by sub-element to facilitate reassembly.

The fuselage stringers were readjusted one by one. The stick housings received new bearings and a varnished wooden handle.

The seats required the replacement of sheet metal and the creation of custom cushions using aircraft-approved leather. The dashboard strips and the padding surrounding the cockpits were redone. A crack in the landing gear attachments was repaired, and the landing gear legs received new polyurethane seals, providing a better seal than rubber seals.

The repainted instrument panels and overhauled instruments are in their original condition. Since the aircraft was not originally equipped with an electrical system, the wiring had to be completely rewired without altering the aircraft's appearance. A console respecting the general appearance of the cockpit accommodates all the electrical components and remains discreet. The empennage required extensive sheet metal work on the leading edges.

The tank was tested for leaks and cracks. The struts were inspected and two of them were straightened.

A varnish was applied to the wooden parts of the wings, and the aluminum leading edges were redone. The right aileron, poorly repaired by the previous owner, required extensive sheet metal repair. The transponder antenna was installed inside the wing tip to make it completely invisible after covering.

A Continental W670 engine restores the aircraft to its original configuration. Since cotton does not hold up well over time, we opted for a polyester interlining with a lathing in accordance with the original plans.

The aircraft took to the air again on November 8, 2019. It has flown around ten hours to date.

Source: https://aeroclub.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/Ae%CC%81rgramme-du-Patrimoine-n%C2%B019-e%CC%81te%CC%81-2020.pdf

✈️ Technical sheet – Boeing Stearman Model 75 Kaydet N56938