PT is the designation for Primary Trainer. During early of WWII, it was the first airplane potential pilots were trained to fly in. There are other PT-17 type airplanes with different engines and different tasks that carry different PT numbers.
This PT-17 Stearman aircraft (serial number 41-870 / N27933) was built in 1940 by Stearman Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. The aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corp on November 4, 1940 and was assigned to the 62nd Flying Training Detachment at the Mississippi Institute of Aeronautics, Army Air Flying Training Command at Jackson Field, Jackson Mississippi. In November 1943 the aircraft was transferred to the 318th Flying Training Detachment, Women Airfare Service Pilots (WASP) School, Flying Training Command at Army Air Force at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas.
The initial restoration involved repairing the lower wing and repainting the aircraft but due to the extent of the airframe’s needs it has turned into full rebuild restoration project. The aircraft will be restored to its original silvery livery used when it was flown by the WASP at Avenger Field.
Once completed, the aircraft will be returned to service as a flying aircraft based at Lancaster Airport, Lancaster, Texas. The aircraft will be used to educate all ages of the public about the WASP's mission and impact on female aviators, and it will be featured in airshows and displayed as part of the Living History Flight program.
This PT-17 Stearman aircraft (serial number 41-870 / N27933) was built in 1940 by Stearman Aircraft in Wichita, Kansas. The aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Corp on November 4, 1940 and was assigned to the 62nd Flying Training Detachment at the Mississippi Institute of Aeronautics, Army Air Flying Training Command at Jackson Field, Jackson Mississippi. In November 1943 the aircraft was transferred to the 318th Flying Training Detachment, Women Airfare Service Pilots (WASP) School, Flying Training Command at Army Air Force at Avenger Field, Sweetwater, Texas.
The initial restoration involved repairing the lower wing and repainting the aircraft but due to the extent of the airframe’s needs it has turned into full rebuild restoration project. The aircraft will be restored to its original silvery livery used when it was flown by the WASP at Avenger Field.
Once completed, the aircraft will be returned to service as a flying aircraft based at Lancaster Airport, Lancaster, Texas. The aircraft will be used to educate all ages of the public about the WASP's mission and impact on female aviators, and it will be featured in airshows and displayed as part of the Living History Flight program.
Stearman PT-17 A 1940s Trainer
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