Boeing provided the trainer in which nearly all U.S. Army
and Navy pilots flying in World War II earned their wings. Here's
how the Stearman biplane became one of Boeing's largest production
runs, with more than 10,000 built. It's an airplane so simple
and rugged that more than 1,000 are still flying today.
Clear prop! The Boeing Stearman biplane reflects an era when
airplanes were simple, noisy and highly subject to wind, weather--even
daylight. These photos capture the experience of aviation's
formative years--as seen from the cockpit during a recent Sunday
flight over Illinois.