They had a fly-in at my little local airport Saturday

[MGMcAnick]

I was working, so I couldn't be there. I looked out my kitchen window Sunday morning to see a rather mangled Stearman Bi-plane parked across the runway. I was busy all day with church followed closely by a "celebration of life" (AKA funeral) for my younger son's sister-in-law. 41, pulmonary embolism, but that's another story. I guess if they have a bar, it's a celebration.

We got home from the "celebration'' before dark, as they were loading the plane onto a flatbed trailer. They'd already removed all four wings. I went over to see if any help was needed. It was. The owner/pilot said he grazed the right wing of a low wing plane with his lower right wing as he was rolling out on landing. The low wing plane was taxiing back on the only runway, and should have yielded to the landing plane. It was still flyable after the accident. That caused the WW-II Stearman trainer to veer off of the runway and hit a substantial oak tree. That got both top wings, but not the propeller. Had he not hit the tree, he'd have hit the hangar next door the THAT neighbor. The tree was a far more cushy obstacle.

He said "This is no big deal. You should have seen it THE LAST TIME"!

[oldr_n_wsr]

Cool plane. When we were on the outer banks of NC there was one that would take people on rides that came right down the coast every morning. We put dad on it and he had a great time.
Ever since we have been looking for the plans or a kit for an RC PT17?? Stearman bi-plane. I found the plans for one with a 72" wingspan but he is looking for one with about a 50" wingspan (for a .60 engine). I also found a few RTF and ARTF (Ready to fly and Almost Ready to fly) stearmans but he insists on building the whole thing himself. He's not a fan of RTF stuff. (Neither am I. I find that most of the fun is in the building)