“Do you want a thrill of a lifetime?”  Then you must schedule a flight in the “N’Awlins Lady,” an open cockpit airplane.  See the the city like very few get a chance to do!  Check one more item off your Bucket List!   What views?

 

 

 

 

 

To book a ride on the BEW Stearman click on: Purchase A Ride

If additional information is needed you can contact Shirley at [email protected] or Pilot Mike Scott at  [email protected].

Stearman flight cost:  $300.00.

Purchase your ride by clicking on: Purchase A Ride. 

Requirements:

  • Smoking is prohibited on the aircraft ramp.
  • Passengers must be at least 12 years of age. A parent signed permission form is required for all non-adults.
  • Passengers must weigh less than 250 pounds.
  • Passengers may not wear flipflops.
  • Passenger must be able to physically climb in and out of the aircraft under their own power.
  • Passengers must check-in a minimum of 15 minutes prior to the flight departure time. Passengers who fail to arrive and check-in within this time frame will be subject to cancellation of their flight reservation.
  • A liability release will be provided at check in and must be completed and signed prior to boarding.
  • Passengers must attend a pre-flight safety briefing prior to boarding. There will be crew members to assist you in boarding, securing seat belts and to answer any questions.
  • Passengers must be flexible with scheduling due to weather or safety conditions.

A few tidbits about flying in a 1943 WWII an open cockpit plane primary trainer:

  • Passenger will sit in the front seat where there is a full set of controls that you can watch, but not touch.
  • Passenger will wear a headset to communicate with the pilot and to hear air traffic communications.
  • Passenger will experience wind but not it is not uncomfortable.  The headset helps to reduce the wind noise.  The Stearman has a wind deflector and cruises at 80 mph.
  • Passengers need to secure items.  It is important not to bring anything that could fall out of your pocket. It will be lost in the Stearman.
  • Passengers with phone or camera need to keep it secured with a lanyard that you can wrap around your wrist.  The wind will blow it out of your hand.
  • Passengers may not wear flip flops or high heels.

Stearman History:

The N’Awlins Lady is Boeing N2S-5 Stearman (N1617M) Serial Number 75-8498. She was accepted by the U.S. Navy on September 16, 1943 and was initially assigned to the Naval Aviation Primary Training (NAPT) base at Ottumwa, Iowa.  She ended her military career at the Corpus Christi NAS, Texas. It was stricken from the Navy inventory September 30, 1947.  This aircraft never dropped a bomb nor fired a shot, but it trained the young boys to apply their skill in flying the fighting warbirds of WWII.

The Stearman (Boeing) Model is a biplane used as a military trainer aircraft, of which at least 10,626 were built in the United States during the 1930s and 1940s. Widely known as the Stearman, Boeing Stearman or Kaydet, it served as a primary trainer for the United States Army Air Forces, the United States Navy (as the NS & N2S), and with the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Kaydet throughout World War II.   After the conflict was over, thousands of surplus aircraft were sold on the civilian market for a nominal amount. The N’Awlins Lady was purchased for 500 dollars. In the postwar years, Stearman became popular as crop dusters and aerobatic performers at airshows.

Covid Precautions:

Please note that the CAF is operating under special precautions to defend against the spread of COVID 19 and to help keep our crew and the public as safe as possible. Masks will be worn at all times, especially when needed to be within 6 feet for strapping in and helping out of the plane.

Passengers will be asked to complete a short questionnaire upon check-in to assess COVID symptoms and the possibility of recent exposure.

We will make every effort to protect our crew and passengers. 

Masks must be worn throughout the flight due to the close proximity of the microphone to your mouth.

Passengers who are over the age of 65, and/or who have underlying health conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, kidney disease, diabetes, or autoimmune disorders or who are members of high-risk categories may not want to fly.