...And then there were the Stearmans, many of which had only just begun their flying careers providing primary training for young wartime pilots, but which would go on to expand their careers into civilian training, banner-towing and crop-dusting. But in the first instance, when those WW-II training bases fell silent, the survivors of the 8,594 Model 75 Stearmans produced had to find some secure accommodation. In this remarkable photo, an estimated 150+ Stearmans have been very carefully 'racked and stacked', standing on their noses to minimise their footprint on the floor. Notice how the space between the upper and lower wings of each aircraft is occupied, right up to the inter-plane struts, by the wings of two adjacent aircraft, weaving them all together. Note also the necessary walkway allowances created to facilitate passage between these otherwise log-jammed biplanes!
