Stearman Bi-Plane

**Riverkilt** · 8th October 11, 11:28 AM

Okay - its actually a Waco that looks a LOT like a Stearman.

Since I pretty much live next to the airport in Page, AZ I walked over this morning to check out the annual fly-in.

They had a Stearman there - which is cool since my late father learned to fly in a Stearman at Johnson Flying Service in Missoula Montana as part of that civilian pilot training program back before WWII.

This is a pic of him (right) and his instructor (left) at the old Johnson Flying Service field. I think the University of Montana now sits on this land. Dad worked at a menswear shop so he was dressed to the 9s for the pic.

Here's me in my Royal Air Force tartan kilt (in his honor) next to the Waco that flew in to Page today for the air show.

When the war started dad drove from Missoula, MT to Spokane, WA to enlist in the Royal Air Force. The recuriter told him he didn't have enough hours in his log book yet, gave him a pen, and told him to go to a room down the hall and get more flight time. Dad came back a few minutes later and was enlisted as a Flying Sergeant in the Royal Air Force.

Here's a pic of the Waco logo on the plane today.

And a cropped close up so you kilt junkies can see the RAF tartan better.

Jacket patches are from his fighter squadron and fighter group and other squadrons in his fighter group after he transferred to the Army Air Corps in England in Sept 1942...and there's one for the First Armored who picked him up, and saved his butt, after he was shot down by ground fire from the Afrika Korps as they poured through Kassarine Pass in February 1943.

**cessna152towser** · 8th October 11, 12:20 PM

A great way to honour your father and those who saved his life.
Super pics Ron, brings back happy memories of my flight in a Stearman at Canadian Warplane Heritage.

**vmac3205** · 8th October 11, 01:39 PM

When I was a kid, the local spray plane was a Stearman. After spraying the neighbood orchards, the pilot would buzz his sister, who loved across the road from me. There was many a summer morning I woke up to the Stearman flying through my bedroom window. Great memories.

**McMurdo** · 8th October 11, 01:49 PM

Great stuff Ron looks like a good day.

Alex
Here are some pictures of you in the Stearman, it was a great day and after the flight you could not wipe the grin from your face.

**cessna152towser** · 8th October 11, 02:01 PM

Happy memories, Glen, thanks for making it all happen and thanks for the pics.

**Riverkilt** · 8th October 11, 02:15 PM

Here's another one for you Alex,

The rear cockpit of the Stearman.

I believe they disconnect the bungie cord before take off....

**Zardoz** · 8th October 11, 07:42 PM

Ron, I hate to be "that guy" but the aircraft you are next to is a Waco UPF-7, not a Boeing "Stearman" PT-17. Although they are quite similar. The Waco was a popular private sporting aircraft that was adopted by the Civilian Pilot Training Program at the start of WWII.

**Riverkilt** · 8th October 11, 07:46 PM

Jeez, shows you what I know about Pre War II aircraft....it was just parked there - no signs other than the logo - which makes sense.

Thanks for the education.....they're both neat planes....

**Zardoz** · 8th October 11, 07:50 PM

Yes indeed, the Waco is a much more gracefull aircraft than the more utilitarian Stearman

**Riverkilt** · 8th October 11, 07:59 PM

Went back and dug up dad's flight logs and it turns out he did all his training in a Cub!

So the Stearman pic was just for the pose - go figure, maybe it was just visiting....

And dang! His log book....he only had about 20 hours of flight time in the Cub when the RAF signed him up....scary. Guess they were pretty desperate for anyone that could fly even a little bit.