August 1971, China Lake NAS, California. A Boeing B-29 was lifting off the runway on a ferry flight to Texas. The PIC was a man by the name of Randall Sohn. “Randy” was becoming a legend in the ranks of the Commemorative Air Force. His contributions to the CAF and many other organizations with big “round engined” aircraft are still noted today. To me, Randy Sohn was a mythical aviation legend who could fly anything, he was, larger than life. However, father time catches up and these legends do go west, much to our heartache. I think of those individuals that have given so freely with their contributions during their lifetime. The zenith of their contributions have passed and just memories remain. Well, I was proven wrong in that thought as roughly four years ago, I received an email that we had a family that wanted to donate a Boeing Stearman to the CAF. Ok, it was not a flyer, but it was complete and located in the Dallas Ft. Worth area. Here comes the kicker, it was not just any Stearman, it was Randy Sohn’s Stearman…… N580RS…. Larger than life, Randy via his family steps into the limelight again. Through his daughter Sari and her husband Jim Hughes, they want his Stearman flying again and flying with the CAF. To keep his aircraft in the air honoring, educating, and inspiring.

The aircraft was relocated to the Dallas Executive Airport at CAF Hq. in the Fred and Barbara Telling Restoration Hangar. While still being described as early into it's restoration, we are now ready for the fuselage and cockpit items/hardware to re-installed. Fabric and materials are on hand we expect to have this work completed in the next 12 weeks. No area has escaped scrutiny as the fuselage and engine mount have been soda blasted, inspected, and painted. The vertical/horizontal stabilizers and rudder along with the elevators have also received this same treatment. The main landing gear assy (forging) has also been subjected to work. The fuselage appears to be in good condition and we will begin to replace all bushings and bearings with new. The inner strut/spring assemblies of the landing gear will be cleaned, examined, repaired, and re-assembled. The ailerons have been stripped of fabric are in the process of being cleaned and examined. On a cursory glance they appear to be in good condition. The ailerons, stabilizers, elevators, and rudder will soon be ready to recover. The wings and the center section (fuel tank) are another story in regard to their initial inspection. All of the wings will need work and on one wing a good amount of wood will need to be replaced. The fuel tank center section has a few areas concern that will require a complete rework as well. The wings and the center section are the focus with this 2025 "12 Planes of Christmas" campaign. Our goal is to raise $7,500.00 dollars to begin the woodwork on the wings. The engine will be the next big item after the wings and fuselage are near completion.  

Warmest Regards,

Alan Brooks,

Kaydet Sponsor Group Coordinator

History of the Stearman Aircraft:

The Stearman (Boeing) Model 75 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.[1] Stearman Aircraft became a subsidiary of Boeing in 1934. 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. In the immediate postwar years they became popular as crop dusters, sports planes, and for aerobatic and wing walking use in air shows.