More advise please

bluehawk15 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:20 am

Bill brought up a good point, indirectly, that I hadn't even thought of at the time. The PT-17 comes with a few engine and prop options. You might want to see which one would best fit your wants. I even got a little time in one that had BT-13 wheels on it to go with a really big engine!

Django · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 12:26 pm

Good points Bill. Before I posed the question, I looked at Trade A Plane and Courtesy, and it seemed like there was some overlap in pricing between the 2. Probably an immaculate Stearman vs an older restoration on the T-6?

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

For a few years the T-6 and the Stearman were priced about the same...

Airplanejunkie · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 8:49 pm

bdk wrote:

For a few years the T-6 and the Stearman were priced about the same...

It looks like prices on T-6s are pretty good right now. (Heck, prices on just about any airplane are pretty good right now.) However, I think operating costs are a different story, particularly if the fabric on the Stearman is newer. Personally, I'm glad I'm not putting gas in a T-6.

bluehawk15 · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 9:24 pm

Putting gas in a T-6 isn't so bad. It's about the same as the U-11, the U-11 can just cover more ground with the same gas. When bidding an airshow we figure 35 gallons per hour. If you were going cross country at altitude, it might get down to about 30gph.

I don't know what the fuel burn on a PT-17 is, of course it would depend on the engine size.

Airplanejunkie · **Posted:** Wed Dec 16, 2009 10:55 pm

A stock Stearman is 13 or 14 GPH....I think the O-1 is about the same but it's been a long time since I flew one.

Steve

wacoykc · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 9:35 am

My vote would be the Stearman for the pure enjoyment of flying. You can purchase a decent stock Stearman right now for about $75-85K. You have the option of 220 Continental, 245 Jacobs, 225 Lycoming for engines. All are easy to get overhauled. You can go with a Sensenich wood prop, McCauley Steel prop (junk-100hr AD), or Hamilton-Standard. You can buy just about anything you want brand new or NOS from Dusters & Sprayers. Red Stewart Airfield in Waynesville, Ohio offers Stearman instruction. There are many other places as well. Gas burn is anywhere from 12-15 gph. Join the SRA (Stearman Restorers Association) and get on their forum. More info than you could imagine. Stay away from the dealers if trying to find one as you will pay significantly more. Get on Barnstormers or look at the classified section in the SRA newsletter...plenty there for sale.

If you want a clunky old slow biplane, buy the Stearman. If you want speed and class, buy a Waco UPF-7!!!!!! (had to throw something Waco-related into the mix)

Baldeagle · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 12:18 pm

Why not a PT-26, open the canopy in warm weather and close it in cold weather, still a classic PT type, and a good flyer-

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Bill Greenwood · **Posted:** Thu Dec 17, 2009 1:26 pm

Just looked in Trade A Plane. 3 T-6 s listed for $149k to $185K. Stearmans, two at $80k and $85k and on up, one listed at $329K! So a real wide range on them.

If you don't need the extra power, I liked the feel of the 220 hp Stearman, lighter. It defintily does not have much power at altitude, I once saw a very unfortunate fatal accident in a 220 hp. at a high altitude airport, a stall spin type. My guess is that the 300 hp might be a good engine.

richkolasa · **Posted:** Sat Dec 19, 2009 2:33 am

Bill Greenwood wrote:

With all the fancy, high powered, high tech plastic,airplanes on the scene , the finest example of real airshow piloting is still Walt Orh sp.?, in the stock 225 hp Stearman. That it my opinion and many others share it.

I believe you mean John Mohr from Mohr Barnstorming in his Stearman. Yes, he is absolutely amazing.

Have a good holiday Bill.

Rich

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