Bob Fischer tells the story of a particular Stearman – one of Boeing’s most iconic types – now residing and still flying in the Netherlands
With Ruud Heinen in the front, Ferry van der Geest flies Stearman NS1944S over the 19th century Paard van Marken (Horse of Marken) lighthouse.
PHOTOS BOB FISCHER
When Stearman PT-13D 75-5864 lined up for its first flight at Boeing’s Wichita, Kansas facility in mid- 1944, no one could have predicted it would still be around nearly 80 years later, filling the sky with its tell-tale snarl. Nor that it would end up more than 4,600 miles (7,402km) away on the tiny Dutch island of Texel.
Lone Star Trainer
