A yellow Stearman that is more rare than an N3N, WOW!

krlang · **Posted:** Tue Aug 31, 2010 4:40 pm

I had no idea this thing even existed, nevermind the fact that it lives close by.
I saw it arrive at the Pease Airshow last weekend, and the baffles on the engine nose case looked intriguing when it flew over.
I walked by it on Saturday and it was so crowded with people I didnt spend alot of time, but it was roped off Sunday, and the owner was there.

It is a PT-27, a late model stearman built for the RCAF. There were 300 made but only 1 with a canopy.
Designed to be used in colder climates, it was passed over for the Cornell.
It had landing lights in the lower wings, a separate sliding canopy for each cockpit, and a few other odds and ends.

Very nice airplane, and it is for sale. Located in Hampton, NH

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Tue Aug 31, 2010 4:52 pm

If that is the only one to have a canopy than I actually flew in that plane. It was at the Beaver County Airport for a while. I flew in a Stearman that had a canopy but was never sure if there were more than one like that or not.

marine air · **Posted:** Tue Aug 31, 2010 5:23 pm

THe rarest thing I see is the Canadien paint as I haven't seen one in those markings in years. THe canopies on them used to be fairly common. When I was a kid, they were for sale new surplus in the box for about $250 bucks for sale in Trade a Plane (1970's) An alternative, smaller, canopy that will work is the one off a Varga Kachina 2150A. THe Boeing canopy is supposed to have a lot of drag.

Dave Hackett · **Posted:** Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:22 pm

I got this one in the early to mid 90s at Sun-n-Fun....Still looking for an id on it(hint.....).

I think that the parts were the easy thing in making one. The pure breed thing may be a bit more difficult though.

dave

m charters · **Posted:** Tue Aug 31, 2010 9:50 pm

The CWH Stearman is in Canadian markings, and the Stearmans used in Canada were to have the canopy for the tough Canadian winters.
Read more about them at http://rcaf.com/Aircraft/aircraftDetail.php?KAYDET-232

wacoykc · **Posted:** Tue Aug 31, 2010 10:53 pm

I remember the one from PA as well....was owned by a USAIRWAYS guy whose name was I think Rothelsberger. He had it at Oshkosh one year right after finishing it........maybe 10-12 years ago.

Brad · **Joined:** Thu Apr 29, 2004 10:30 pm **Posts:** 1131

Dave Hackett wrote:

I got this one in the early to mid 90s at Sun-n-Fun....Still looking for an id on it(hint.....).

I think that the parts were the easy thing in making one. The pure breed thing may be a bit more difficult though.

dave

That is known as a Rawdon canopy. They were built in Wichita, Kansas by the Rawdon Brother's Airplane Company and other than the 36 Rawdon T-1s that were built, the majority of them ended up on PT-19s. I've got a picture of a Stearman in England with this style of canopy. It's registered at G-THEA.

krlang · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 5:01 am

mustangdriver wrote:

If that is the only one to have a canopy than I actually flew in that plane. It was at the Beaver County Airport for a while. I flew in a Stearman that had a canopy but was never sure if there were more than one like that or not.

wacoykc wrote:

I remember the one from PA as well....was owned by a USAIRWAYS guy whose name was I think Rothelsberger. He had it at Oshkosh one year right after finishing it........maybe 10-12 years ago.

That would be the airplane,
It did credit the restoration to Jack Rothelsberger on the sign next to the airplane. Beaver Falls, PA

dc8jet · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:43 am

Do you know where it's based? I'm heading to New England in a couple of weeks and would love to check it out.

mustangdriver · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 8:11 am

That would be him. He is restoring the L-21 Super Cub for Air heritage right now as well. he is a very cool guy who is not shy about taking people up. He took me up for my birthday after I helped him wash the plane.

krlang · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 10:06 am

It is currently based in Hampton, NH. As I said it was for sale.
Hampton Airfield is a small grass strip just west of the beach, behind a Harley dealer.
It is a really neat place, filled with fabric covered tail draggers, and a great restaurant.

K.L.

John Dupre · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 3:13 pm

There used to be a PT 27 complete with canopy at Plum Island Airport about 10 miles south of Hampton, NH 30 years ago. I wonder if it is the same aircraft?

dc8jet · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:20 pm

I visit Hampton Airfield every time I go out there. Haven't seen the Stearman there before. Ill be sure to look for it. Love the restaurant!

Dan Jones · **Posted:** Wed Sep 01, 2010 7:48 pm

Interestingly only the last PT-27 delivered to Canada (FK108) came with the canopy (and the rest of the cold weather mods). From what I understand it wasn't the best design, really raising h-ll with the airflow over the tail. Apparently the first guy to spin test the canopy almost left it when he figured it wasn't going to recover but it eventually did. One of the four RCAF fields to operate the PT-27's is only about 20 miles south of where I am (RCAF Bowden) but it's a prison now and you can't fly over the place. As soon as it got cold the Air Force realized that the Stearman was a non starter and the surviving airplanes were returned to the US as the weather allowed, being replaced with Tiger Moths and Cornells. I have photos of some USN Stearmans fitted with rails for this canopy but none actually fitted with it.

Dan

N3Njeff · **Posted:** Fri Sep 03, 2010 7:15 pm

Nope, dont do anything for me. Guess I could post a pic of a N3N-1 with a canopy but that would be to easy.....as they DID exist but only one -1 is still around and its still open cockpit.

Like the one with the Rawdon canopy.............looks neat.........Miss working on the T-1.......really was a beast of a airplane. You still messing with them brad???

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A yellow Stearman that is more rare than an N3N, WOW!

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