The Stearman Aircraft Company produced a bi-plane trainer-aircraft called the Model 70. In
1935 the USN ordered the Model 70 with a Wright J-5 Whirlwind engine designated the
NS-1. Boeing Aircraft Company bought Stearman and gave the Model 70 a Lycoming R-680-5
radial engine making it a Model 75. In 1936 the U.S. Army Air Corps placed an order for the
Model 75 and designated it PT-13. With a Continental R-670-5 engine it became the PT-17.
The RCAF labeled it PT-27 Kaydet with Kaydet becoming the universally accepted name.

In February 1949 the Israeli Air Force purchased former U.S. Army PT-17s for their new Flight
School at the ex-RAF base Kfar Sirkin just outside Telaviv. The IAF would eventually own
over 60 PT-17s that were used as their primary trainer and supplemented with some
Harvards. The IAF tested Chipmunks, Fokker S.11 Buckaroos plus a few others but they
weren’t able to perform in the hot climate of Israel. In the 1950s pilot training required 60 hours
in the PT-17 before moving on to the Harvard. The PT-17 was used until it was replaced in
late 1956 by the Piper Super Cub. The #31 4X-ACH is kept at the Israeli Air Force Museum at
the Hatzerim Air Force Base and is flown on some holidays, air shows and IAF pilot academy
graduations.

Specifications Boeing PT-17 Kaydet Stearman
Crew – 2 x Student Pilot and Instructor
PT-17 Produced – 3,500 +
Number of all variants produced – 10,000 +

Performance
1 x Continental R-670-5 7 cylinder radial engine producing 220 hp
Maximum Speed – 124 mph
Climb Rate – 840 ft/min
Service Ceiling – 11,200 ft
Range – 505 miles

Dimensions
Length – 24 ft 3 in
Wingspan – 32 ft 2 in
Height – 9 ft 2 in

Weight
Empty – 1,936 lbs
Maximum Takeoff – 2,717 lbs

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