Stearman C3
Stearman Aircraft · United States · first flew 1927 · light aircraft
The Stearman C3 was an American civil biplane of the 1920s and the first Stearman aircraft to receive a type certificate.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.32 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Simple straight biplane wings
- Two open cockpits with the pilot at the rear and two passengers side by side in front
- Undercarriage with oleo shock absorbers
A rugged open-cockpit biplane with straight wings and a tough oleo undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Stearman C3 has a length of 7.32 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 10.68 m (35 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 203 km/h (126 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was a slightly modified version of the earlier C2, with a larger oil tank and baggage compartment. It was introduced in 1928 with engines from 128 hp to 225 hp.
Variants
Most were C3B or C3R models. The C3R had a cut-out in the rear of the wing centre section, a headrest and a slightly larger rudder, and the C3MB was a mail carrier with an enclosed forward cockpit.
Where you'll see it
It was built for passenger flying and business use, and a few were approved for floats. In 1931 a C3B nicknamed The Flying Carpet was flown around the world by Moye Stephens.
Related aircraft
- Stearman C1 Sport Commercial
- Stearman N2S-1 Kaydet
- Stearman XA-21
- Stearman XOSS-1
- Akaflieg Darmstadt D-17 Darmstadt
- ANBO II
- Avia BH-27
- Avia BH-29
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