Stearman Cloudboy

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

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).

Today, the Cloudboy is an extremely rare aircraft; only four Model 6 Cloudboys are still registered. Known examples include: N787H, serial number 6002, owned by Ronald Alexander and displayed at the Candler Field Museum in Williamson, Georgia;^[1] N788H, serial number 6003, on display at the Golden Wings Flying Museum in Blaine, Minnesota;^[2] N795H, serial number 6004, on display at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California; N786H, serial number 6010.

Variants

Model 6L Stearman Cloudboy (YBT-9B), N787H

Model 6A Cloudboy: Initial civil production with a 165hp (123kW) Wright J-6 Whirlwind 5 engine, three built.
Model 6C Cloudboy: Re-engined with a 300hp (224kW) Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind (R-975-1), also designated YBT-3.
Model 6D Cloudboy: Re-engined with a 300hp (224kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp Junior, also designated YBT-5
Model 6F Cloudboy: Re-engined with a 165hp (123kW) Continental A70 engine., also designated YBT-9A.
Model 6H Cloudboy: Re-engined with a 170hp (127kW) Kinner YR-720A engine, also designated YBT-9C.
Model 6L Cloudboy: Re-engined with a 200hp (149kW) Lycoming R-680-3 engine, also designated YBT-9B

YBT-5

Model 6P Cloudboy: One 6F re-engined with 1 220hp Wright J-5 engine
YPT-9: Military production variant of the Model 6A with a 165hp (123kW) 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 165hp (123kW) Continental A7] (YR-545-1) engine, later converted to YPT-9B.
YPT-9B: One YPT-9 and one YPT-9A re-engined with a 200hp (149kW) Lycoming R-680-3 engine.
YPT-9C: YBT-3 re-engined with a 170hp (127kW) Kinner YR-720A engine.
YBT-3: One YBT-9 re-engined with a 300hp (224kW) Wright J-6-9 Whirlwind, later converted to a YPT-9C.
YBT-5: One YBT-9 re-engined with a 300hp (224kW) Pratt & Whitney 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: United States Army Air Corps

Specifications (YPT-9B)

Data from United States Military Aircraft since 1909^[3]

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 ft² (25.3 m²)
Gross weight: 2,814 lb (1,279 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming R-680-3, 200 hp (149 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 135 mph (217 km/h)
Range: 490 miles (789 km)
Service ceiling: 17,000 ft (5,183 m)
Rate of climb: 1,050 ft/min (5.3 m/s)

References

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.

↑ http://www.peachstateaero.com/museum/
↑ http://www.goldenwingsmuseum.com/collection/AC-Pages/YPT-9.htm
↑ Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 441.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Stearman aircraft.

Stearman Aircraft

Aircraft	M2 C1 C2 C3 4 6 75 76 80 81 Sportser X-85 X-90 X-91 X-100 X-120

Companies	Stearman Aircraft United Aircraft and Transport Corporation Boeing Spirit AeroSystems

United States trainer aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems

Advanced Trainer
(1925-1948)

Basic Combat
(1936-1940)

Basic Trainer
(1930-1948)

Primary Trainer
(1924-1948)

Main sequence
(1948-present)

1948 redesignations	T-6 T-7 T-11 T-13A T-13B/D T-17 T-19

New designations	T-28 T-29 T-30 T-31 T-32 T-33 T-34 T-35 T-36 T-37 T-38 T-39 T-40 T-41 T-42 T-43 T-44 T-45 T-46 T-47 T-48 (I) T-48 (II) CT-49 T-50 T-51 T-52 T-53

Alternate sequences

1962 redesignations	T-1 T-2

1990-1996 sequence	T-1 T-2¹ T-3 T-4¹ T-5¹ T-6

¹ Not assigned

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