The Stearman you will be flying aboard was delivered to the United States Army Air Corps on May 27, 1941. It was accepted by the Army at Langley Field Virginia and assigned to service at the Army flight school in Jackson Mississippi.
022 was later transferred to Arcadia, Florida where it was used to train pilots of Britain's Royal Air Force by Emory Riddle Aeronautical University under contract with the US Government.
After the war, 022 was sold as a surplus aircraft and went into the advertising business, towing banners. Later, it was acquired by a private owner who lovingly maintained it for over 20 years. It underwent a full, top-to-bottom restoration in 2000.
Today, 022 is maintained to the highest of standards. Every day, the metal propeller is oiled and the aircraft inspected for damage or any wear that may need attention. Every 25 hours, a sample of the oil is sent to a testing facility for analysis to detect internal wear or other engine anomalies.
We believe that 022 is the finest example of a Stearman PT17 that is a daily flyer, and it is our goal to keep it that way! We ask for your understanding and assistance in treating it as the historical treasure that it is. We hope that 50 years from now 022 will still be providing the public with a chance to experience flight in a historic military aircraft and that it will be in the same outstanding condition as it is today.
