This 1941 Boeing/Stearman A75N1 PT-17 Is a Smooth, Forgiving ‘AircraftForSale’ Top Pick

After training thousands of pilots for World War II, many of these beefy biplanes continue to serve.

1941 Boeing​/​Stearman A75N1 (PT-17). [Courtesy: Jennifer Hembree]

Each day, the team at Aircraft For Sale picks an airplane that catches our attention because it is unique, represents a good deal, or has other interesting qualities. You can read Aircraft For Sale: Today’s Top Pick at FLYINGMag.com daily.

My first opportunity to fly a Stearman PT-17 came when a friend of a friend stopped by my home airport during a leisurely flight across the U.S. He took me aloft for an hour or so, and the airplane made a great impression.

Indeed, part of me has wanted to own one ever since.

Unlike many classic biplanes, the Stearman, despite its forest of struts and bracing wires, does not seem delicate. It is a large airplane that sits high on its long landing gear struts. It has “ramp presence” to spare.

It makes sense that the Stearman is big and beefy, as it had to withstand the many errors made by Army Air Corps and Navy pilot trainees. This was the first aircraft many of those aspiring military pilots had flown, so it had to provide the right combination of challenge and forgiveness. Such qualities make this charismatic antique ideal for today’s pilots, who will find the vintage machine to be a very sweet flier.

This 1941 Stearman has 4,244 hours on the airframe and 84 hours on its 220 hp Continental W670 radial engine. The aircraft’s VFR panel features a Garmin GTR 225 com radio, GTX 327 transponder, and GDL 52R SiriusXM with ADS-B receiver.

Additional equipment includes a Brackett air filter, Redline Hydraulic brake system, Airwolf remote oil filter, uAvionix ADS-B Out, Dusters & Sprayers tail shock assembly, belly-mounted Whelen LED beacon assembly, Jasco alternator kit, new fuel sight gauge, USB ports, map light, and solid tailwheel.

Pilots shopping for a classic, capable biplane with an honorable history dating to World War II should check out this 1941 Boeing/Stearman PT-17, which is available for $119,900 on AircraftForSale.

If you’re interested in financing, you can do so with FLYING Finance. Use its airplane loan calculator to calculate your estimated monthly payments. Or, to speak with an aviation finance specialist, visit flyingfinance.com.

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