Commemorative Air Force’s P-17 Stearman. The Army and Navy both used the trusty Stearman where they were referred to primarily as a PT-17 with the Army and a N2S-3 with the Navy. Although the Stearman was challenging to fly in the hands of a student pilot with no previous experience, it allowed instructors to quickly evaluate student performance and move those who were not progressing into other jobs. Made primarily out of wood and fabric with a steel tube fuselage, the Stearman was one of the strongest trainers built during World War II. After the war, many Stearmans soldiered on for decades as crop dusters and air show performers. The remaining examples of this classic aircraft are now sought by collectors worldwide.
Great Rivers Imaging 