PT-17A STEARMAN KAYDET (ARMY) 1/24

This high quality replica is handcrafted from mahogany and comes with a wooden base. Dimensions are 12 1/4'"(L) X 17 1/4"(Wingspan)

The Boeing/Stearman Model 75 biplane is one of the most recognizable World War II trainers ever built. It served as a primary trainer for the United States Army Air Forces and as a basic trainer for the US Navy throughout World War II. It is commonly referred to as the Stearman PT-17 or Kaydet as well. The Canadians, who also operated the aircraft, were the ones responsible for the moniker “Kaydet”, a name eventually adopted by air forces around the world. A total of over 8,000 aircraft were built by the end of 1945.

The Kaydet was originally designed as the Model 70 by Lloyd Stearman. The design was later adopted by Boeing when it bought the Stearman Aircraft Company in 1934. The single-bay wings of the aircraft were made from wood with fabric covering while the fuselage had a welded steel framework. The aircraft had a large, fixed tailwheel undercarriage, and tandem seating for the student and instructor. The PT-17 model was powered by a Continental R-670 engine. The Kaydet was easy to fly, and relatively forgiving of new pilots. It gained a reputation as a rugged plane and a good teacher.

The first service to show interest in the Kaydet was the US Navy. Even though the US Army Air Corps needed a new biplane trainer in the mid-1930s, the service-wide lack of funding delayed the purchase. In 1936, the Army tentatively bought 26 airframes. But with the war fast approaching, the demand quickly increased and 3,519 aircraft were delivered in 1940 alone. The Kaydet trained many World War II aviators in their early days as pilots.