ONE SLICK STEARMAN
ONE SLICK STEARMAN
The Stearman 'Beta'. Once the fastest production airplane in the world at a little over 200 miles per hour. Had it not been for the Depression of the 1930's this design may have been a much more common sight and had a greater influence on aviation in the Golden Era. It was an all metal airplane, rare for this time in aviation. It was powered by a 300 hp Pratt and Whitney Wasp Jr. engine.
CLICK IMAGE FOR ENLARGED VIEW
Originally designed by Jack Northrop, the aircraft was transferred to the Stearman Co. in Wichita, Kansas in 1931. United had purchased both Northrop and Stearman in 1929 and wanted to move the entire operation to Wichita however the executives at Northrop in California refused to move to Kansas.
The airplane was destroyed in a crash in 1934.
