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Restoration Nation: The Stearman Next Door

A lovable WWII-era biplane can be a worthy but expensive project.

With between 8,000 and 10,000 built, many Stearmans are still flying today. [iStock]
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Key Takeaways:

  • The author discovered a long-dormant Boeing Stearman PT-17 in a neighboring hangar, sparking a desire to restore the classic aircraft back to flying condition.
  • Experts, including flight instructors and mechanics, strongly advised against purchasing and restoring the aircraft due to prohibitively high costs (e.g., $60,000-$80,000 for new covering alone) compared to buying an already airworthy model.
  • The Stearman PT-17 is celebrated for its significant military history as a WWII trainer, its robust and forgiving flight characteristics, and its enduring appeal as both a Golden Age biplane and a warbird.
  • Despite the financial and logistical challenges highlighted by professionals, the author feels a strong personal temptation, fueled by childhood memories and a memorable flight experience, to see the dormant Stearman return to the sky.
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When I moved my airplane into its new hangar at Sussex Airport (KFWN) in New Jersey late last year, I gazed at the rows of adjoining units and wondered what types of rare and interesting machinery lay behind the dozens of bifold doors.

A few weeks later, I found that a distinguished neighbor resided next door. A contractor had opened the hangar door to adjust the cables, pulleys, and motor that control its movement. The shape of the aircraft parked inside left no doubt regarding its identity. It was a Boeing Stearman Model 75, also known by its military name, the PT-17.

Jonathan Welsh

Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4

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