How does this airplane compare to a stock Stearman?
Other than looks, it weighs more, and flys 20 to 25 MPH faster. It performs aerobatics dramatically better. It is placarded against intentional spins, and there are some other number changes with regard to airspeeds and weights. I’ll be posting some stuff about flying qualities later. What does it cost to fly? The engine drinks 20 to 25 gallons per hour of fuel. Each engine is a little different, but a big radial also drinks oil too. Yearly maintenance is not as expensive as say a twin engine, or more complex modern aircraft. However, a classic aircraft does need to be hangared and that is expensive. All told, each hour of flight in this airplane can easily cost $150. Would you do this sort of thing again? In a heartbeat. I’ve acquired a Beech 18 project. This should run me well into retirement. It is difficult for people who have not done this to understand how much of the restoration is good management skills, in addition to craftsmanship. This can take a lot of time that is not actu
