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N75PT
Boeing Stearman Model 75/PT17
March 27,1941 Serial number 75-2449
Owner/Pilot/Restorer Paul Tulacz
with assistance of Big Sky Stearman
Project purchased May 8,1992, with restoration commencing on February 28,2000.
Maiden flight on July 31,2003. Three and 1/3 years.
Purple with gold accent separated with lilac. In 1930's
styling. Polished and/or chromed Metal on numerous other parts.
Why is it purple? It's purple cause!
It wasn't too long after I bought the basket-case Stearman project that I started thinking
about color and styling, but it took some time, including looking at a lot of other airplanes,
both in the flesh, as well as in pictures.
Very early on I considered and
rejected the early Army Air Corps and Naval trainer colors as I did not
particularly like those liveries, but also because there were a lot of them. Also, I felt that
if I were to do those treatments, I would want the end product to be fully
authentic and
that is difficult to accomplish in terms of time, money, and available parts.
I then decided to do a "sport" model, and that would provide
a considerable latitude of
possibilities. I also decided I wanted a different and/or uncommon color. There are a
lot of white, red, yellow, blue, dark green, etc. airplanes about many that are very, very
nice. I also wanted a color I would like for a long time. After seeing several, I soon
discarded orange. I actually did think about a rose/pink color, but that's too damn
feminine, so that quickly became a no no. I'm not big on blue either. Green was given
considerable consideration, in a variety of shades. A deep rich purple evolved as the
color choice, and strongly influenced by the accent color of gold. I digested it for quite
some time, and it only became a more certain choice. Playing with mock-ups, it also
became clear that a small band of some different color was needed to separate the gold
from the purple. I chose lilac/rose in a narrow band.
I also wanted the scheme to have a 1930's flavor, and so it is present on the leading
edges of the wings, horizontal, vertical stabilizer, rudder, and fuselage, where it sweeps
from the upper and lower aspects of that structure just aft of the engine, and comes
together and tapers as it heads for the tail.
I also wanted a lot of polished metal, and it certainly has that.
Anyway, that's why it's purple!
I like it, and I hope you all do too.
Paul
Specifications
Engine Continental R 670-5, 220 horsepower.
Propeller Hamilton Standard 2B20
| Gross
weight |
2239
pounds |
| Maximum
baggage |
60 pounds |
| Fuel |
46 gallon |
| Oil |
4.4 gallon |
| Power
off stall |
55 mph/48 knots |
| Power
on stall |
51 mph/44 knots |
| Do
not exceed |
186mph/163knots |
| Normal
cruise |
95 mph/83 knots |
| Fuel
consumption |
12-13 gallon/hour |
| Range |
2.5-3 hours |
Avionics
GPS nav-com and transponder with mode C
Awards
Best of class/primary trainer. Evergreen Fly in 2003 and 2004.
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