The 1942 Stearman Next Door

We explore the allure and cost of restoring a classic warbird trainer.

Thursday, April 20, 2023 at 01:47 PM ET

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This 1942 Stearman has lived in the hangar next to ours for many years. We plan to get better-acquainted with our neighbor. [Credit: Jonathan Welsh]

Key Takeaways:

The author, a new airport tenant, discovered a neglected Boeing Stearman biplane in a neighbor's hangar that had been idle for at least 15 years.
The Stearman is for sale at $70,000, including a spare engine, both of which are presumed to require extensive overhauls and restoration work.
Experts estimate the restoration costs, particularly for re-covering, would be substantial, potentially making the total investment exceed the price of an already-flying Stearman.
Despite his fascination, the author clarifies he will not undertake the "big project" due to its scale but plans to research the restoration process for future articles.

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Antiques have never been a big part of my life, but certain old things can be fun, like my 1982 Suzuki GS1100 motorcycle. It was a hot ride when I was in high school and it took me until a few years ago to get my hands on one. It is about as much nostalgia as I can handle. Or so I thought until recently.

Early this year I was taxiing to our hangar after a flight when I noticed our next-door neighbor’s bay door was open. From a distance I could see an exposed radial engine, long narrowly spaced landing gear and two stout wings—a Boeing Stearman.