BOEING PT-17 KAYDET

One of the most famous aircraft of World War II the PT-17 was developed as a private venture of the Stearman Aircraft Company. Development of the aircraft began in 1934 with the first Army order for the plane coming in 1936. Stearman was actually a division of the Boeing company and the aircraft was eventually sold under the Boeing name. Every pilot in the Army Air Force during World War II flew a PT-17 at some time during their training. Thousands of them were built for the American military and for export. A great many of these found their way into civilian hands at the close of the war. Civilian uses included; pilot training, aerial crop spraying, pleasure flying, and air show performances. The Stearman remains a popular aircraft at airshows today.