BarnStormer!

WITH HIS VINTAGE STEARMAN, JR. SMITH IS INTRODUCING A WHOLE NEW GENERATION TO THE JOYS OF BIPLANE FLYING

I guess my dad is really responsible," said pilot J.R. Smith as he fueled his PT-17 Stearni. "My dad originally got his first airplane riJe from a barnstormer in a Curtiss Jenny. That really got him hooked and he went on and got his pilot's license in 1938. That led him to become an instructor in the Army Air Force during World War Two. During the war, he flew most of the trainers but he really

enjoyed the Stearman and put lots of hours on the type instructing cadets."

JR.'s dad also instilled the love for flying in his son and taught him to fly. Since then, he has "flown thousands of hours under 100 feet" doing ag work and other specialized flying. He also has developed a distinct passion for the classic Stearman and has owned several examples.

His current mount is PT-17 N4768V which he bases at scenic Oceano Airport on California's central coast. "This is a real working girl," said J.R. "I bought this aircraft, which was an ex-duster, about three years ago. Since then, it has flown 1200 hours which is not bad!" Besides hauling passengers on airshow barnstorming flights, J.R. uses the Stearman for banner and glider towing and scenic flights. "The ban on banner towing in Class B airspace after the 11 September tragedy has definitley affected business," said the pilot. "I also haul skydivers so they can do inverted jumps from the Stearman. Skydivers like to jump out of all sorts of aircraft so they can add them to their jump log.

"This plane has been modified with a 450-horse Pratt & Whitney up front and that is ideal for the type of work we do. My dad taught me to fly in a stock 220-- horse Stearman and there is a lot of difference between the two engines.

"Going to airshows and hopping passengers is a lot of fun since you get to meet so many different types of people. I really like giving kids rides," states J.R. "Most of them are getting their first airplane ride and their faces are really easy to read. Some of them are real tigers and can't wait to get into the front cockpit and get the helmet on. Others you can tell are somewhat unsure. However, if you talk to them a bit about the airplane, let them sit in the cockpit and handle the controls, then most of them are ready to go flying. I hope a few of these kids will be like me and make aviation the main part of their life."

Copyright Challenge Publications Inc. Jan 2002
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