Next BFR coming up i thought it might be fun to fly in something new to me. A CFI rated friend has a nice Boeing PT-17.

Any thoughts from those on here that have some time in the Stearman?

Lots of fun to fly. Kind of slow responding controls. Have to stay ahead of the airplane on the ground. Thousands of Cadets learned to fly it so I'm sure you can too. If you don't have any tailwheel time, it might take a few hours to transition. BFR-depends on what the CFI is willing to do?

Oh, I have almost 1000 hours of tailwheel, i'm not worried about figuring that part of it out. More I was wondering if the fun factor of an open cockpit biplane Stearman is worth adding an extra approximatly $500 to the cost of a BFR.

Sounds like it might be.

I have 1.9hrs. It's a bit intimidating at first, but honest plane and it's worth it - even just putting in your log book.

You can put it on its nose, so easy on the brakes.

Once you get used to not seeing squat,-it's a blast!

A cold blast this time of year. Hopefully your flight review comes due in the warmer months. I fly open cockpit quite often and 45 degrees or so is about the lowest I like to go unless I'm getting paid.

I've got a Stearman..... fantastic airplane. I love every minute. It is a dream compared to my 180. In fact I have people check out in the 180 before they get to fly the Stearman or T-6. If you can handle a C-180 you can fly a Stearman (with a little instruction, the Stearman WANTS to ground loop).

I sa do it.

I've got two Stearmans, one with a 220hp Continental and the other with a 450hp Pratt & Whitney.

Absolutely, positively fly one if you have a chance. There is no other plane like it. But like Gunny said they WANT TO GROUND LOOP, they really do. You have to stay in front of this airplane at all times when it is on the ground, cause if she starts to get away you won't be able to stop her.

Unlike a Skywagon you have ZERO visibility forward when on the ground. And, unlike a Skywagon, they are much easier to wheel land because of the difference in the gear, but almost all landing accidents in Stearmans occur while wheel landing - and I'm talking pilot error here. So always three point her, unless you are landing against a VERY gusty headwind.

If the brakes are drum, they are super grabby - keep your feet off them, if disc not a problem. Feel free to PM me if you'd like to know more.

There are three sayings about Stearmans that are the absolute truth.

1. There are only two types of Stearman pilots, those that have ground looped and those that will.
2. You are not done flying a Stearman until its in the hangar, the hangar door is closed, and you've left the airport.
3. Even a high time airline pilot (with no taildragger experience) won't be able to successfully taxi a Stearman the first time.

Come fly with me anytime, I'm happy to introduce folks to the Stearman.

Another Stearman owner here, sounds like a fun way to knock out a BFR. Stearmans are great fun and really bring you back to honest basic stick & rudder flying, good platform for some gentleman's aerobatics as well. More enjoyable if you've got a turf strip to fly it off of, but then most flying is...

I've got a little time in a Stearman...remind me of flying a heavy Cub.

I have one, everything stated above is correct. It has a high CG, narrow and tall gear (military accepted the Boeing PT but re-spec'd narrower gear), no forward vis...and, is a total MUST fly!!! It absolutely wants to ground loop at all speeds (yes, I've done it). Remember your crosswind techniques. Bendix brakes generally suck, (Had em..never got them right, grabby), Hayes brakes (got em now, love em), and Redlines (disc, awesome feel). Go have fun.....then, be ready to start shopping

I can see no reason why you wouldn't do it...... You only live life once, lived correctly, once is enough..
I have some very fun times in that plane!

SF

I've only flown a 220 Stearman. I like everything about them. They can be a bit touchy in strong, gusty crosswinds on pavement.

Can't add much that Gunny and the rest haven't already. I love the Stearman even more than the T-6. Although a little top heavy as described, it has a lot more rudder authority than you think it does. It's also heavy enough to handle more cross wind than you would think (given you use the right technique).

I enjoy the Stearman because it crosses a couple different genre of aircraft, it's got the characteristics of an old vintage biplane, but once you're in it, it has a heavy, industrial, military warbird feel. In the end, it is just another bigger taildragger, but folks are usually intimidated with having zero forward visibility and relying exclusively on peripheral vision during the flare and roll-out. I do several checkouts and BFRs in my stock Stearman every year and I get a great deal of satisfaction watching pilots master it.

Mike-

Visibility on the ground reminds me of the front seat of a J3.

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Thanks guys, this summer I'm going to go ahead and do the BFR in a Stearman. I always thought the Stearman looked like a lot of fun, now it's confirmed. I will report back with pics & maybe some video (which I might even post if I don't look too inept).