Lloyd Carlton Stearman
Encyclopedia
Lloyd Carlton Stearman was an American
aviator
and aircraft designer.
Stearman was born in Wellsville, Kansas
. From 1917 – 1918, he attended Kansas State College (later renamed Kansas State University
) in Manhattan, Kansas
, where he studied engineering
and architecture
. In 1918, he left school to enlist in the U.S. Naval Reserve in San Diego, California
; while there he learned to fly Curtiss
N-9 seaplane
s.
During the mid-1920s Matty Laird
, designer of the Laird Swallow
aircraft, hired Stearman as a mechanic, giving him his first exposure to fixed-wing aircraft
manufacturing. On February 4, 1925, Stearman and Walter Beech teamed up with Clyde Cessna to form the Travel Air Manufacturing Company, where he remained until 1927, when he left to form his own manufacturing company, Stearman Aircraft Corporation
. It was there that he built the Stearman C2 and Stearman C3
, and designed other biplanes for mail and cargo delivery, observation and training.
In the early 1930s, Stearman became president of Lockheed Aircraft Company
(now Lockheed Martin Corporation) and designed agricultural aircraft. In 1948 more than 4,345 Stearman aircraft were used in agricultural flying.
In 1936 with Dean B. Hammond he formed the Stearman-Hammond Aircraft Corporation to produce the Hammond Model Y.
In recognition of his contributions to the aircraft industry, Lloyd Stearman was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame
in Dayton, Ohio
in July 1989.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
aviator
Aviator
An aviator is a person who flies an aircraft. The first recorded use of the term was in 1887, as a variation of 'aviation', from the Latin avis , coined in 1863 by G. de la Landelle in Aviation Ou Navigation Aérienne...
and aircraft designer.
Stearman was born in Wellsville, Kansas
Wellsville, Kansas
Wellsville is a city in Franklin County, Kansas, United States. The town site of Wellsville was laid out in the fall of 1864 by Messrs, Shoot, Root, and Wells of Chicago. The town was named after Mr. Wells of the company. The population was 1,606 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Wellsville is...
. From 1917 – 1918, he attended Kansas State College (later renamed Kansas State University
Kansas State University
Kansas State University, commonly shortened to K-State, is an institution of higher learning located in Manhattan, Kansas, in the United States...
) in Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan, Kansas
Manhattan is a city located in the northeastern part of the state of Kansas in the United States, at the junction of the Kansas River and Big Blue River. It is the county seat of Riley County and the city extends into Pottawatomie County. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 52,281...
, where he studied engineering
Engineering
Engineering is the discipline, art, skill and profession of acquiring and applying scientific, mathematical, economic, social, and practical knowledge, in order to design and build structures, machines, devices, systems, materials and processes that safely realize improvements to the lives of...
and architecture
Architecture
Architecture is both the process and product of planning, designing and construction. Architectural works, in the material form of buildings, are often perceived as cultural and political symbols and as works of art...
. In 1918, he left school to enlist in the U.S. Naval Reserve in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
; while there he learned to fly Curtiss
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company was an American aircraft manufacturer that went public in 1916 with Glenn Hammond Curtiss as president. Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the company was the largest aircraft manufacturer in the United States...
N-9 seaplane
Seaplane
A seaplane is a fixed-wing aircraft capable of taking off and landing on water. Seaplanes that can also take off and land on airfields are a subclass called amphibian aircraft...
s.
During the mid-1920s Matty Laird
Emil Matthew Laird
Emil Matthew Laird was an American aircraft builder and pilot. He is credited with putting the first commercial aircraft into production.- Early life :...
, designer of the Laird Swallow
Swallow Airplane Company
In January 1920, the E.M. Laird Aviation Co. Ltd. was started with the purchase of the six month old Witchita Aircraft Company, it's aircraft and the factory of the Watkins Manafacturing Company. Oilman Jacob Mollendick and Buick-Franklin salesman W.A. Burke each contributed $15,000.The first...
aircraft, hired Stearman as a mechanic, giving him his first exposure to fixed-wing aircraft
Fixed-wing aircraft
A fixed-wing aircraft is an aircraft capable of flight using wings that generate lift due to the vehicle's forward airspeed. Fixed-wing aircraft are distinct from rotary-wing aircraft in which wings rotate about a fixed mast and ornithopters in which lift is generated by flapping wings.A powered...
manufacturing. On February 4, 1925, Stearman and Walter Beech teamed up with Clyde Cessna to form the Travel Air Manufacturing Company, where he remained until 1927, when he left to form his own manufacturing company, Stearman Aircraft Corporation
Stearman Aircraft
Stearman Aircraft Corporation was an aircraft manufacturer in Wichita, Kansas. Although the company designed a range of other aircraft, it is most known for producing the Model 75, which is commonly known simply as the "Stearman" or "Boeing Stearman"....
. It was there that he built the Stearman C2 and Stearman C3
Stearman C3
|-References:NotesBibliography* Davies, R.E.G. Airlines of the United States since 1914. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1998. ISBN 1-888962-08-9....
, and designed other biplanes for mail and cargo delivery, observation and training.
In the early 1930s, Stearman became president of Lockheed Aircraft Company
Lockheed Corporation
The Lockheed Corporation was an American aerospace company. Lockheed was founded in 1912 and later merged with Martin Marietta to form Lockheed Martin in 1995.-Origins:...
(now Lockheed Martin Corporation) and designed agricultural aircraft. In 1948 more than 4,345 Stearman aircraft were used in agricultural flying.
In 1936 with Dean B. Hammond he formed the Stearman-Hammond Aircraft Corporation to produce the Hammond Model Y.
In recognition of his contributions to the aircraft industry, Lloyd Stearman was inducted into the National Aviation Hall of Fame
National Aviation Hall of Fame
The American National Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, east Dayton, Ohio...
in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
in July 1989.
External links
- Biography from The National Aviation Hall of FameNational Aviation Hall of FameThe American National Aviation Hall of Fame is located at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, east Dayton, Ohio...