Journey to the past

Air Classics, Oct 2003 by Hulett, George

Remembering history with a vintage biplane

The legendary Boeing Stearman Model 75 biplane was the primary trainer for tens of thousands of American pilots during World War Two. For most of these students, the Stearman was the first airplane they flew in a series of increasingly larger, faster, and more dangerous planes with which they fought the war. Like many firsts, these flights in the Stearman and the adventures that followed proved to be unforgettable.

Flying Through Time by James M. Doyle (Brassey's Inc., www.brasseysinc.com $27.95) is the saga of these experiences, told within the framework of the author's own challenging flight retracing the wartime journeys of his plane - a restored 1941 Kaydet. Twice crossing the country and touching down on each of the eight bases at which the Kaydet served, the author recounts the uncertainties of piloting a vintage biplane almost 8000-mi, as well as his experiences in meeting, talking to, and flying with the men who piloted Stearmans and went on to fight the war.

His tale evolved into a collection of stories that paint a picture of the times. The pilots' recollections, refreshed for many by taking the controls of the author's plane, are woven throughout the narrative of his trip. These stories, and those from an archive discovered during the flight, tell of fears, courage, humor, and the sheer adventure of the events that owned the old men's youth.