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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 26, 2009 22:17:05 GMT 12
I have always thought the Stearman trainer was a neat biplane, and have enjoyed seeing a few of them around NZ over the years. But my interest them has now been peaked as I realise that many New Zealanders actually trained in Stearman variants in the USA in WWII, as part of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm.
I am amazed to see there are now 7 of these aircraft now on the New Zealand register, and so I wondered, does ayone have photos of all seven?
And do any of them wear colour schemes that represent the US Navy examples that the kiwi Fleet Air Arm pilots might have trained on? Have any NZ owners sort out colours and markings with a specific kiwi connection?
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Post by stu on Nov 27, 2009 10:31:16 GMT 12
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Post by philip on Nov 27, 2009 11:49:21 GMT 12
Didn't Paul Holmes crash one? was it fixed?
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 27, 2009 12:58:11 GMT 12
Yes, then he crashed it again, and the wreckage went to Australia.
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Post by furyfb11 on Nov 27, 2009 14:27:40 GMT 12
 Stearman E75 ZK-XAF at Tauranga 14/02/98. This aircraft is now operated by Classic Flyers and is available for scenic flights |
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Post by stu on Nov 27, 2009 17:18:53 GMT 12
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 27, 2009 17:25:33 GMT 12
Great photos guys. I wonder what their schemes represent - era, base, squadron or unit, etc.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2009 8:55:56 GMT 12
Graham Orphan is importing another to be based with him at Omaka, I have no idea regards rego etc.
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 28, 2009 9:36:06 GMT 12
The Stearman is certainly one of the most 'classic-looking' of the trainers from that era. I like those gaudy US pre-war colour schemes, the blue and yellow is very smart.
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2009 9:38:21 GMT 12
I like the yellow and red one that was at the Whenuapai Open Day this year.
I suspect the bright schemes were retained through the war for these trainers, weren't they?
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Post by flyjoe180 on Nov 28, 2009 9:46:08 GMT 12
I think the blue and yellow schemes were pre-war and used during the early war years. I have seen all-yellow Stearmans too, was this a service preference? The USN and US Army both used the Stearman. I do know that the star insignia had the red centres removed in 1942, about the time that British and Allied aeroplanes in the Far East had their red roundels removed.
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Post by furyfb11 on Nov 28, 2009 10:29:09 GMT 12
 Stearman A75N1 AZR Whenuapai 1/3/98 |
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Post by furyfb11 on Nov 28, 2009 10:38:13 GMT 12
 AZR again this time a month later at Wanaka and without its regisration letters. This aircraft is no longer on the civil register.What happened to it? |
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Post by furyfb11 on Nov 28, 2009 11:00:44 GMT 12
 Stearman PT-13D N4036 at Thames 27/2/83.This aircraft flew under its American registration untill 27/11/98 when it became ZK-JID.See Stu's photos above. |
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2009 12:26:38 GMT 12
Nice photos Fury
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Post by furyfb11 on Nov 28, 2009 13:55:30 GMT 12
 Stearman A75-N1 N9163R Ardmore 8/3/03.Owned by Paul Holmes it became ZK-RRR |
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Post by Naki on Nov 28, 2009 13:58:15 GMT 12
AZR again this time a month later at Wanaka and without its regisration letters. This aircraft is no longer on the civil register.What happened to it? 17073 (c/n 75-5236) ex USN 61114. Became N1300V, then C-GPDR, then ZK-AZR. Registered Jan 28, 2003 to G. R. Nicholas of Cremorne, Australia as VH-AAP |
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Post by furyfb11 on Nov 28, 2009 14:01:16 GMT 12
Paul, thanks
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Post by Dave Homewood on Nov 28, 2009 14:28:27 GMT 12
Yes, ZK-BWR is the one I saw at Whenuapai, it's a gorgeous aircraft. And the colour scheme is a US-NAVY N2S as flown by our Fleet Air Arm guys.
Where is this one based now?
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Post by furyfb11 on Nov 28, 2009 14:42:37 GMT 12
 N65501 G-BTGA ZK-TGA Wanaka 2002 |
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