Page 29 - Volume 13 Number 5

Demand for Stearman trainers, however, was not limited to the United States. By the mid-1930s the export market was heating up, too. In 1935 Argentina ordered 10 Model 76D1 for its navy, three Model 76L3 had been purchased by the Philippine Constabulary Force in March of that year, and in 1937 the Brazilian air force plunked down an order for 30 of the Model A76C3 (export version of the Model A75) that featured a more powerful radial engine and light armament for ground attack missions.
It should be noted here that the
Stearman company was not alone
in achieving success. Walter H.
and Olive Ann Beech, who had
co-founded the Beech Aircraft
Company in 1932, informed the
Wichita press that their workforce
had built twice as many Model B17-
series biplanes in 1936 as were
manufactured in 1935, and more
than 300 men and women were
on the payroll. Across town on Franklin Road, the Cessna Aircraft Company was building an increasing number of the four-place, nimble and handsome Model C-34 monoplane. According to general manager Dwane Wallace, the factory was approaching full capacity and he anticipated that 1937 would be a banner year. The Wichita Eagle newspaper reported that, “Wallace did not hesitate in predicting that Cessna would double the 1936 business during the coming year, based on predictions of fast-growing demand for the speedy and economical little plane.”1
Stearman’s PT-13A trainers ships were powered by nine-cylinder Lycoming R-680-5 static, air-cooled radial engines rated at 225 horsepower. As the hot, Kansas summer of 1937 settled in, the factory had finally reached its maximum production capacity of 15 airplanes per month, or about one trainer every other day.
Julius Schaefer knew that if additional orders were received, the manufacturing facilities would have to be expanded to keep pace with demand. In September the Air Corps ordered another 20 PT-13A trainers, and Army were quick to voice their approval of the Model 75: “The primary training planes have proven to be highly popular and efficient at the Randolph Field, San Antonio, Texas, facilities. When the present contract is filled, there will be 125 Stearman planes in service there, all Wichita-built.” As production rates slowly increased, a steady stream of Air Corps pilots traveled to the factory almost every week to accept delivery of three aircraft at a time and ferry the biplanes south to Texas.
MAY 2019
The PT-13B’s airframe was essentially identical to that of the PT-13A but was powered by a Lycoming R-680-11 engine. The photograph was taken at Wright Field in July 1940.
(Courtesy U.S. Air Force, AETC History Office)
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