Stearman Biplanes

The "First five lottery cars" thread has grown out of control, and I don't really have a "Lottery Car" anyway. But if I were to suddenly come into substantial good fortune, I would get myself a Stearman PT-17.

I've loved the crap out these since I was about five years old. My father and I would ride our bicycles to a little grass airstrip a few miles from our house, and, occasionally, I would get a glimpse of the "yellow double winger". I was an adult when I finally figured out what it was. It was probably purchased for hundreds and is now worth six figures.

Oddly enough, I'm not a pilot and I no longer even enjoy flying, but I still need to own one of them. Mine will be all yellow, like the one that I'd look for on my bike rides.

I still own the bike...

nice choice. If you are going to fly slow.. might as well fly in style

mad_machine wrote: nice choice. If you are going to fly slow.. might as well fly in style

Yup.

Bonus: Plenty of lift.

That's a cool plane.

My lotto "thing" wouldn't really be a car either. I'd probably get me a nice fast DD, probably a CTS-V, but the Abomination would be a terror when I was done with it.

My "thing" would be something like this:

I would love an old biplane...sadly, even a slow single wing like a piper cub or a Texas parasol is beyond my means. If money was no object I would want a replica of a WWI albatros

I like the Waco, but to each his own. I will own a biplane- you can get a "Acroduster II" two seat for around $30k.

The piper cub is actually my thing. i would also get a beechcraft bonanza for distance.

Flew to Nassau from Ft. Lauderdale in a Beech Bonanza. Nice flying plane, very pretty, but dayum, it's small inside! Rubbed shoulders with the pilot the whole way.

It's silly, but I want one.

I'll see your Stearman & raise you a Beech Stagger-wing. Who said stable and easy to fly needs to be slow.

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Model_17_Staggerwing

Biplanes? Sure. Make mine a Beechcraft Staggerwing, please.

Edit: Damn!

mine would be something like this, if i were to come across a "never have to work another day" amount of money:

but probably more realistic would be a carbon cub from cubcrafters:

it's a shame that Cub picture is wrong. Due to the weight distribution of the cub.. a lone pilot flies from the backseat.

I took an hour long flight in a biplane when down in the outerbanks once... was great fun

Fun fact: you cannot pull the wings off a stock engined PT-17, even in a full power dive.

If it's Bipes, Pitts or nothing.

HappyAndy wrote: I'll see your Stearman & raise you a Beech Stagger-wing. Who said stable and easy to fly needs to be slow. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Model_17_Staggerwing

I won't deny that there may be better options out there for your biplane dollar, but a yellow Stearman is the one that I want.

Great pictures on this thread. It's cool to know there are some 'real' pilots out there. Everyone knows 'Real pilots fly tail draggers'. Flying is expensive, unfortunately I had to stop years ago. I have my ticket and did all my primary in Cubs (J3 and L4).

HappyAndy wrote: I'll see your Stearman & raise you a Beech Stagger-wing. Who said stable and easy to fly needs to be slow. http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechcraft_Model_17_Staggerwing

Faster biplane, you say? I think you need the Sorceress http://www.flickr.com/photos/angad84/4726416279/

I'll stick to my Snoopy vs. Red Baron fantasy.

mad_machine wrote: it's a shame that Cub picture is wrong. Due to the weight distribution of the cub.. a lone pilot flies from the backseat. I took an hour long flight in a biplane when down in the outerbanks once... was great fun

Looking at photos of bushpilots in STOL competition, several seem to be in the the front seat. Maybe in that situation, vision trumps CG.

If it has to be yellow (an awesome colour for a plane, btw) it would have to be a DHC-2 Beaver for me. As a plus, you can fit the taildragger with floats and go to the beach.

My fishing trip in a Beaver was awesome. I never new you could put that big of an engine in a tin can before.

The pilot of the airplane of the company my father worked for restored an old Stearman back in the late 1960s. I think it had a 450hp P&W engine. I never got to fly in it but it was a beauty.

I think my lottery plane would be a Fieseler Storch.

Stearman PT-17 is on the list for my brother and me. Stephen Coonts wrote a book about his Stearman, The Cannibal Queen. He flew it to the 48 continental states. My dad had a Beechcraft Staggerwing D-17. It is the first airplane that I remember riding in. It was red with the black Beechcraft bird on the fuselage. I will try to find a picture.

RossD wrote: My fishing trip in a Beaver was awesome. I never new you could put that big of an engine in a tin can before.

There is also the version with the turboprop.. but I prefer the big old radial for looks and sound.

I always thought with a modern tail, the staggerwing would look current.

Joey

Also, I think with unlimited money I would buy a PBY Catalina. They are so pretty.

Joey