thumb|right|[[Stearman 4|Stearman 4-D mailplane of 1931 in markings of Western Air Express]]
thumb|right|[[Boeing-Stearman Model 75|Boeing/Stearman N2S Kaydet at NAS Corpus Christi]]
thumb|right|Stearman XBT-17
Stearman Aircraft Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer in Wichita, Kansas. Although the company designed a range of other aircraft, it is most known for producing the Model 75, which is commonly known simply as the "Stearman" or "Boeing Stearman".
History
On 10 December 1926, Lloyd Stearman as president, Fred Hoyt as vice president, and George Lyle as secretary, chartered Stearman Aircraft, Inc. Aircraft fabrication took place in Venice, California, with final assembly and test flights taking place at Clover Field.
Four C1 and C2 biplanes were built before production moved back to Wichita in 1927. On 1 October the company was renamed the Stearman Aircraft Company, after additional capital was raised by Walter P. Innes, Jr., and his business associates. The first aircraft constructed in the Wichita factory was a C2B, while adjacent to the factory was a 1390 foot runway. The C2M with mail pit, and a new model, the Stearman C3 followed. On 11 December, Stearman was named president, Mac Short vice president, Walter P. Innes, Jr., secretary, and Harry A. Dillon treasurer. On 6 September 1927, the company charter was filed with the State of Kansas, and primary shareholders included Stearman, Short, Dillon, and Innes, plus H.M. Steinbuschel and J.O. Davidson, with Davidson also serving on the board of directors. and Northrop's operations were moved from Burbank to Wichita.
Aircraft
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Model name
! First flight
! Number built
! Type
|-
|align=left| Stearman M-2 Speedmail
|align=center| 1929
|align=center| 7
|align=left| Single engine biplane mail plane
|-
|align=left| Stearman C1
|align=center| 1927
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Single engine commercial biplane
|-
|align=left| Stearman C2
|align=center| 1927
|align=center| 4
|align=left| Single engine commercial biplane
|-
|align=left| Stearman C3
|align=center| 1927
|align=center| 179
|align=left| Single engine commercial biplane
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 4
|align=center| 1930
|align=center| 41
|align=left| Single engine commercial biplane
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 6 Cloudboy
|align=center| 1931
|align=center| 7
|align=left| Single engine biplane trainer
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 70
|align=center|
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Prototype single engine biplane trainer
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 71
|align=center|
|align=center|
|align=left|
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 73
|align=center|
|align=center| 78
|align=left|
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 75
|align=center|
|align=center|
|align=left| Single engine biplane trainer
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 76
|align=center|
|align=center| 78
|align=left| Export version of the Model 75
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 80
|align=center|
|align=center| 1
|align=left|
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 81
|align=center|
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Single engine biplane floatplane trainer
|-
|align=left| Stearman Model 85
|align=center| 1938
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Single engine biplane observation floatplane
|-
|align=left| Stearman X-90
|align=center| 1940
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Single engine monoplane basic trainer
|-
|align=left| Stearman X-91
|align=center|
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Re-engined X-90
|-
|align=left| Stearman X-100
|align=center| 1938
|align=center| 1
|align=left| Twin engine monoplane attack airplane
|-
|align=left| Stearman X-120
|align=center| 1942
|align=center| 2
|align=left| Twin engine monoplane trainer
|-
|}
References
Footnotes
Notes
Bibliography
- Boeing Company. Pedigree of Champions: Boeing Since 1916, Third Edition. Seattle, WA: The Boeing Company, 1969.
- Bowers, Peter M. Boeing aircraft since 1916. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books, 1989. .
- Simpson, Rod. Airlife's World Aircraft. London: Airlife Publishing Ltd. 2001. .