Stearman C3

The Stearman C3 was an American-built civil biplane aircraft of the 1920s, designed by Stearman Aircraft of Wichita, Kansas. It was also the first Stearman aircraft to receive a type certificate.

Development The C3 was a rugged biplane with simple straight wings, a tough undercarriage with oleo shock absorbers and two open cockpits with the pilot in the rear and two side-by-side passenger seats in the front. In fact, it was a slightly modified version of the earlier model C2 aircraft. Changes included an increased volume oil tank and larger sized baggage compartment.

Introduced in 1928, the C3 was powered by a variety of engines of between and , each version having its own designation.Simpson, 2001, pp. 520–521. The last version of the C3 was the C3R which had several external differences including a cutout in the aft portion of the wing center section for improved pilot visibility, a headrest in the aft cockpit, and slightly increased chord of the rudder and vertical stabilizer.

Although there were several versions of the C3, most were either the C3B and the C3R. A few C3s were approved for float operations.

Operational history The C3 was built with light commercial applications in mind, including passenger flying and business flights. The C3MB was a special mail-carrying aircraft based on the C3 with the forward cockpit enclosed as a dedicated cargo compartment. This version was operated in 1928 by National Parks Airways on airmail route CAM 26 from Salt Lake City, Utah to Pocatello, Idaho and Great Falls, Montana.Davies 1998, p. 142.

In 1931, a C3B, nicknamed "The Flying Carpet," was flown around the world by Moye Stephens with travel/adventure writer Richard Halliburton as his passenger and chronicler. Their experience was published in Halliburton's photo-illustrated book The Flying Carpet, (1932, Garden City Publishing, Garden City, NY), which made no mention of the plane's manufacturer or model."Halliburton Plans World Flight,", January 15, 1931, New York Times, retrieved June 21, 2026Gilliam, Ron: Richard Halliburton and Moye Stephens: Traveling Around the World in the ‘Flying Carpet’ May 2004, Aviation History (as republished June 12, 2006 on HistoryNet.com), retrieved June 21, 2026Halliburton, Richard" The Flying Carpet, (1932, Garden City Publishing, Garden City, NY)"STEARMAN C-3B NR882N," on the "Grand Central Air Terminal" history website, retrieved June 21, 2026 (see: Richard Halliburton#Flying Carpet expedition)

Variants Data from:Airlife's World Aircraft, Aerofiles:Stearman Variants produced were: C1 First of the C series powered by a Curtiss OX-5, later re-engined with a Menasco-Salmson radial as the C1X. One built. C2 Four aircraft similar to the C1, with the radiator mounted underneath, hydraulic shock absorbers and dual controls. Variously powered by Curtiss OX-5, Wright-Hisso A, Wright Whirlwind and Menasco-Salmson radial engine.

C3B Sport Commercial Wright J5 radial engine. C3C Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E engine. C3D Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E engine. 1 delivered. C3E Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E2 engine C3F Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E3 engine. C3G Wright Martin/Hispano Suiza E4 engine. C3H Menasco-Salmson air-cooled engine. C3I Curtiss C6 engine. C3K Siemens-Halske Sh 12. C3L Comet 7D radial engine. 1 built, later converted to C3B. C3MB C3B with forward cockpit enclosed for mail carrying. C3P Wright J5 Whirlwind radial engine. C3R Business Speedster Wright J6.

Operators

Peruvian Air Force

Aircraft on display

Museum of Flight, Seattle, Washington Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum has a 1928 model Stearman C3B NC8830

Specifications (C3B)

Stearman C3

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