For aviation enthusiasts, the Boeing Stearman holds a special place near the top of the lineup of legendary aircraft. The iconic, open-cockpit biplane was widely used as a military trainer aircraft during the Second World War, during which over 10,000 examples were built. After the war, thousands of surplus PT-17s continued to serve civilian flight training and many other purposes including agricultural use and aerobatic flying. The aircraft remains active today with estimates of over 1,000 examples still flying.
Golden Age Simulations is certainly no stranger to the venerable Boeing biplane. Their collection of Stearman variants for FSX and P3D includes the original 1920s-designed Stearman C3, the larger Stearman Model 4-E Junior Speedmail, the iconic Model 75 Stearman, and the 300 and 450 horsepower Super Stearman aerobatic, float, and crop duster versions.
Recently, they previewed their Stearman Model 75 (PT-17/PT-13/N2S3-5) for Microsoft Flight Simulator on YouTube and the developer says that the MSFS version of the Stearman has been “completely reimagined by an incredibly talented developer” adding that it will be available “within a month“. During the almost 22-minute video set against the backdrop of Kāne‘ohe Bay, Hawaii at sunset, Golden Age Simulations showed off their Alpha development version of the Stearman, giving us some stunning visuals and immersive sounds, along with a few clues as to what will be included in the release version.
The video starts with typical preflight items including the removal of the pitot cover and chocks — A tablet interface is shown as a means of adding/removing preflight items as well as the pilot and passenger. We’re then shown an engine startup using the inertial starter hand crank, after which the Boeing biplane taxis out and takes off to the chorus of the radial engine sounds that are sure to please any vintage aircraft simmer. Aerobatics are shown, too, including a loop and an aileron roll with the demo concluding with a touch and go followed by a three-point landing back on MCAS Kaneohe Bay’s runway 4 just as the sun sinks below the horizon (giving an opportunity to show off the aircraft’s panel lighting).
No details about pricing or release date are mentioned but from the video, it looks like the Stearman should be landing in your virtual hangars soon.
