Page 36 - Volume 13 Number 10

In 1932 the Stearman company was given responsibility for marketing the Northrop Beta 3D monoplane – an all-metal, semi-monocoque airframe designed by Jack Northrop for wealthy sportsman pilots. The photograph was taken in 1934 after the factory rebuilt the ship after an accident and installed another Pratt & Whitney Wasp Jr. radial engine. (Courtesy Kenneth D. Wilson)
The Model 81 was similar to the Model 80 but featured a sliding canopy over both cockpits. It was intended to sell as an advanced trainer but no sales were forthcoming and only one was built. The airplane eventually served with the Mexican air force.
(Boeing-Stearman Corporate Collection, Wichita State University Libraries, Department of Special Collections)
called for retractable landing lights manufactured by C.M. Hall, as well as five Elgin flares that were electrically discharged for illumination of the ground if a forced landing was necessary at night.
Despite every effort by the engineering department and factory workers, the company missed Vette’s firm delivery target of March 1933. First flight did not occur until April 9 with veteran test pilot Eddie Allen at the controls. Following the initial flight, Allen performed a series of tests and declared the ship ready for delivery. In mid-April Vette arrived in Wichita and handed a check (amount unspecified) to Schaefer after inspecting the airplane to ensure that it met all of his custom
requirements. Donning a leather helmet and goggles, he climbed into the aft cockpit and took off for California. During the next few years Vette flew the Sportster extensively on cross-country excursions to promote the Huck rivet as well as for personal trips.
Although the climate for sale of new commercial aircraft was slowly improving by 1933, the market was still lethargic. Despite that fact, Stearman officials applied for certification of the Model 80 and received Approved Type Certificate (ATC) No. 504 May 3, 1933. Vette’s one-of-a-kind Stearman creation eventually passed out of the hands of Vette, was modified with a 420-horsepower Wright J6-9 Whirlwind radial engine and eventually was sold into Mexico. The fate of the Model 80 remains unknown.
Later in 1933 the Stearman company followed up the Model 80 with the Model 81 that was essentially identical to the Sportster but was aimed at the market
34 • KING AIR MAGAZINE
OCTOBER 2019