Stearman Cloudboy

The Stearman Model 6 Cloudboy was a 1930s American training biplane designed and built by the Stearman Aircraft Company of Wichita, Kansas.

History The 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).

Variants

Model 6A Cloudboy Initial civil production with a Wright J-6 Whirlwind 5 engine, three built. Model 6C Cloudboy Re-engined with a Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind (R-975-1), also designated YBT-3. Model 6D Cloudboy Re-engined with a Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior, also designated YBT-5 Model 6F Cloudboy Re-engined with a Continental A70 engine, also designated YBT-9A. Model 6H Cloudboy Re-engined with a Kinner YR-720A engine, also designated YBT-9C. Model 6L Cloudboy Re-engined with a Lycoming R-680-3 engine, also designated YBT-9B

Model 6P Cloudboy One 6F re-engined with 1 Wright J-5 engine YPT-9 Military production variant of the Model 6A with a 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 Continental A70 (YR-545-1) engine, later converted to YPT-9B. YPT-9B One YPT-9 and one YPT-9A re-engined with a Lycoming R-680-3 engine. YPT-9C YBT-3 re-engined with a Kinner YR-720A engine. YBT-3 One YPT-9 re-engined with a Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind, later converted to a YPT-9C. YBT-5 One YPT-9 re-engined with a 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

United States Army Air Corps

Surviving aircraft 6002 – 6L airworthy at the Candler Field Museum in Williamson, Georgia. 6003 – 6L airworthy at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon. It was previously owned by the Golden Wings Flying Museum. 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. 6010 – 6C airworthy with Robert Lock of Lakeland, Florida.

Specifications (YPT-9B)

Stearman Cloudboy

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