As the storm clouds of war began to form in Europe in the 1930s, the U.S. Army Air Corps found itself in dire need of a primary trainer for the thousands of pilots that would be required for the war effort. Two of the airplanes that competed for that primary trainer contract, which was ultimately filled by the Stearman Model 75, are in attendance at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh 2024 in Warbirds.
You can find a Stearman Model 70 and St. Louis YPT-15 owned by the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum, which faced off more than 80 years ago for the lucrative USAAC contract, parked in the Training Command area of Warbirds, next to Warbirds in Review.
WAAAM’s 1933 Stearman Model 70 is the only example of the type ever built, and was the prototype for what became the Model 75, which was designated the PT-17 by the military when it entered service. Meanwhile, the YPT-15 was built in 1940 by St. Louis Streetcar, one of only 13 produced.
Based in Hood River, Oregon, WAAAM has an impressive collection of mostly flying aircraft, as well as cars and other motor vehicles. Both the Model 70 and YPT-15 were restored to airworthy status in the last few years and were flown to Oshkosh by WAAAM Chief Pilot Robin Reid and his son Scooter. Prior to this year’s long journey to Wisconsin, neither airplane had left the traffic pattern at the museum’s home airport back in Oregon. The nearly 2,000-mile trip took about four days.
Also parked in the Training Command area is a standard Stearman PT-17, UC-78 “Bamboo Bomber,” Piper NE-1, AT-6 Texan, and de Havilland Tiger Moth. WAAAM’s Stearman Model 70 and YPT-15 will be at AirVenture until Friday, July 26, so make sure to check out these ultra-rare biplanes before they depart.