Boeing N2S-1 Stearman

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Workers nearing completion of Navy's additional hangars on east side of new concrete apron at Fleming Field in 1943. Stearman N2S Kaydet "yellow perils" trainers are parked on apron.​

The CAF Minnesota Wing was assigned an extensive restoration project to return a N2S-1 Stearman to airworthy status. The restoration has begun, but it is turning out to be more extensive than first anticipated. The full restoration project will add another World War II military trainer to a local fleet in South St. Paul, Minnesota. 

HISTORY

The N2S-1 is the Navy version of the Boeing Stearman Model 75 primary trainer, of which 10,000 were made. The open cockpit airplane introduced prospective pilots to flying. Those who earned their wings progressed on to the more advanced trainers such as the BT-13 Vultee and T-6/SNJ Texan. The N2S is a welcome addition to the wing.
The Minnesota Wing is located at historic Fleming Field in South Saint Paul, which is named after Richard Fleming, a World War II Navy pilot who was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor for actions during combat on June 5, 1942. Pilots who trained at Fleming Field would have flown N2Ss as part of their training and the wing is excited to bring this piece of history back to Fleming with the newly acquired airplane.

PROGRESS

The N2S-1 project is in the middle of the restoration process and is currently awaiting an overhauled engine which has added to our overall project total. Once completed, the aircraft will be painted yellow with U.S. Navy markings, just as the aircraft would have looked while being used for training at Fleming Field. With this aircraft, the wing will be able to tell the complete story of training a World War II aviator from primary to basic to advanced training.

TASKS AHEAD

The Minnesota Wing received the aircraft in 2022 and hopes to complete the full restoration in summer 2023.  The aircraft has been torn down to bare wood and metal.  It has been repaired and is currently having the fabric replaced.  All instruments, wiring, and everything forward of the firewall has been overhauled, making it a fully restored aircraft.  Currently the fuselage is being rewired and recovered.  Once that is done, the fabric will be painted yellow, markings will be added, and the QEC (engine, mount, exhaust, accessories, hoses), which will be ready to ship soon, will be installed.  Then it will be time for test runs, and test flights. 

VISION

The Minnesota Wing is excited to be restoring this airplane with the same markings of the aircraft flown at Fleming Field during WWII. By sharing their local story and how it translated to pilots flying across the country and the world during the war, the public will have a greater interest in this aviation history and about the people who participated.