The Stearman Model 6 Cloudboy was a 1930s American training biplane designed and built by the Stearman Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas.
| Model 6 Cloudboy | |
|---|---|
| |
| The YBT-3 | |
| Role | Training biplane |
| Manufacturer | Stearman Aircraft Company |
| First flight | 1931 |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Produced | 1930-1931 |
| Number built | 7 |
History
editThe Cloudboy was designed as a commercial or military trainer. Due to economic pressure during the Great Depression, only a few aircraft were built. Three civil models were built, followed by four similar aircraft for evaluation by the United States Army Air Corps. Designated YPT-9 by the Army, it failed to gain any orders. All models went through a number of engine changes (resulting in new designations for both the military and civil aircraft).[1]
Variants
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- Model 6A Cloudboy
- Initial civil production with a 165 hp (123 kW) Wright J-6 Whirlwind 5 engine, three built.
- Model 6C Cloudboy
- Re-engined with a 300 hp (220 kW) Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind (R-975-1), also designated YBT-3.
- Model 6D Cloudboy
- Re-engined with a 300 hp (220 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior, also designated YBT-5
- Model 6F Cloudboy
- Re-engined with a 165 hp (123 kW) Continental A70 engine, also designated YBT-9A.
- Model 6H Cloudboy
- Re-engined with a 170 hp (130 kW) Kinner YR-720A engine, also designated YBT-9C.
- Model 6L Cloudboy
- Re-engined with a 200 hp (150 kW) Lycoming R-680-3 engine, also designated YBT-9B
- Model 6P Cloudboy
- One 6F re-engined with 1 220 hp (160 kW) Wright J-5 engine
- YPT-9
- Military production variant of the Model 6A with a 165 hp (123 kW) Wright J-6 Whirlwind 5 engine, four built (one converted to YPT-9A, one to YPT-9B, one to YBT-3 and one YBT-5).
- YPT-9A
- One YPT-9 re-engined with a 165 hp (123 kW) Continental A70 (YR-545-1) engine, later converted to YPT-9B.
- YPT-9B
- One YPT-9 and one YPT-9A re-engined with a 200 hp (150 kW) Lycoming R-680-3 engine.
- YPT-9C
- YBT-3 re-engined with a 170 hp (130 kW) Kinner YR-720A engine.
- YBT-3
- One YPT-9 re-engined with a 300 hp (220 kW) Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind, later converted to a YPT-9C.
- YBT-5
- One YPT-9 re-engined with a 300 hp (220 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-985-1 Wasp Junior engine.
- XPT-943
- A primary trainer derived from the 6A for evaluation at Wright Field. Formed the origins of the Stearman NS and PT-13 for the US Navy and USAAC respectively.
- X-70
- Alternative company designation for the XPT-943.
Operators
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Surviving aircraft
edit- 6002 – 6L airworthy at the Candler Field Museum in Williamson, Georgia.[2][3]
- 6003 – 6L airworthy at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon.[4] It was previously owned by the Golden Wings Flying Museum.[5]
- 6004 – YPT-9B on display at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. It was previously owned by the Boeing School of Aeronautics and was acquired by the museum in 1987.[6][7]
- 6010 – 6C airworthy with Robert Lock of Lakeland, Florida.[8]
Specifications (YPT-9B)
editData from United States Military Aircraft since 1909[9]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.76 m)
- Height: 9 ft 7 in (2.92 m)
- Wing area: 272 sq ft (25.3 m2)
- Gross weight: 2,814 lb (1,279 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming R-680-3 , 200 hp (149 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn)
- Range: 490 mi (789 km, 430 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,183 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,050 ft/min (5.3 m/s)
See also
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Related lists
Notes
edit- ^ Phillips, Edward (2006). Stearman Aircraft: A Detailed History. North Branch, MN: specialtypress. pp. 95, 97, 106–108. ISBN 9781580070874.
- ^ "Museum". Peach State Aerodrome. Archived from the original on 31 July 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N787H]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N788H]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ "1930 Stearman Cloudboy L-6 / YPT-9". Golden Wings Flying Museum. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ "Stearman YPT-9B Cloudboy". Yanks Air Museum. Archived from the original on 26 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N795H]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ "FAA REGISTRY [N786H]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Archived from the original on 25 November 2018. Retrieved 25 November 2018.
- ^ Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 441.
References
edit- Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
- Swanborough, F.G; Bowers, Peter M. (1963). United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing. p. 2958.
External links
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