EXPERIENCE VINTAGE AVIATION

Re-live the experience of flying in the “Golden Era” of aviation.

Your pilot, Randy Miller, started Vintage Aviation to share the exhilaration and thrill of flight in a vintage 1940’s era open-cockpit, radial engine biplane. In just a few minutes, you can re-live the experience of flying in the “Golden Era” of aviation.

Randy has been flying these type of vintage, tail wheel type of aircraft literally most of his life. His father, Gerry, taught him to fly in the family’s 1946 Aeronca 7AC Champion when he was just 14 years old.

Randy soloed at 16 years of age, received his Private Pilot Certificate at 17 and his Commercial Rating at 24 years of age. In addition to flying these wonderful aircraft, Randy assists his father in restoring these vintage aircraft at his father’s hangar located at the Mack Mesa Airport (10CO) in Mack, CO.

In addition to piloting his 1942 Stearman, Randy is also qualified in the following vintage aircraft: 1946 Aeronca 7AC Champion, 1946 Taylorcraft BC12-D, 1946 Luscombe 8A, 1941 Waco ZPF-7 and UPF-7 and a 1940 Naval Aircraft Factory N3N-3.

You will be flying in Randy’s 1942 E-75 Boeing Stearman modified with a Pratt & Whitney R985-AN1 engine (450 h.p.) [Serial Number: 75-5154; Registration: N5000V]. This particular aircraft was manufactured in June 1942 and delivered to the Army Air Force (AAF) as a PT-13D with a Lycoming R680-17 radial engine (225 h.p.)

Download FAA Letter of Authorization

Pilot Qualifications:

Name: Randall Davis Miller
FAA Certificate# 2928751
Ratings: Commercial Pilot
Total Time: 3700+ Hours
TT Tail Wheel: 3500+ Hours
Years Flying: 39
Medical: First Class

Safety:

Everything in life has risks. Quite simply, your biggest risk will be just getting in the car and driving to the airport! Safety is the only thing that takes priority over having fun. We give hundreds of flights each year and your pilot is an FAA-Certified Commercial pilot with literally thousands of hours of experience in these types of vintage, tail wheel aircraft. We maintain a perfect flying safety record and our aircraft is maintained to the highest FAA maintenance standards.

Our aircraft has been completely restored by Gerry & Randy Miller of Aircraft Mechanics Ltd., which means that every component has been inspected and/or overhauled or replaced with new. It is essentially a new aircraft.

Gerry Miller has been an A&P (Airframe & Powerplant) and IA (Inspection Authorization) FAA-Licensed mechanic since 1951 and has been involved with antique/classic aircraft restoration the entire time. Gerry has restored over 20+ vintage aircraft in his career and is highly sought after for his skill and technical expertise in the field of aircraft restoration.

History of Our Stearman:

Our flight aircraft is a Boeing Model 75 E75 Stearman manufactured in Wichita, KS in 1942 with s/n 75-5154. It entered service in the Army Air Corps as a model PT13-D and served time in both Southern California and Memphis, TN before being sent to Hill Air Force Base in Ogden, UT for surplus 1n 1949.

In late 1949 it was sold to the Airplane Vapor Spray Company of Visalia, CA where it was converted to a combination duster/sprayer aircraft and modified with the Pratt & Whitney R985-AN1 engine of 450 h.p. From 1950 until 1979 our Stearman was relegated to the harsh life of a crop duster in the Bakersfield, Visalia and Tulare area of California.

In 1980 it was retired from its crop dusting career and converted back into a two-place aircraft. Throughout the 1980’s and early 1990’s it spent its days in Visalia, CA leisurely flying around and enjoying its retirement from the “agricultural lifestyle” but never really found its home until it was sold to Randy in 1999.

N5000V was put down for complete restoration in August 2005 after serving Randy faithfully the last 4 years flying rides in the Grand Junction area. The aircraft has undergone a complete ground-up restoration which essentially replaced every nut, bolt, washer, flight control cable etc. throughout the entire aircraft. In addition, we overhauled the engine and propeller to 0 time status along with new fabric on all flight surfaces, new paint, new avionics and an awesome smoke system. It is one of the finest Boeing Stearmans flying in the world today.

1942 Boeing E75 Stearman (N5000V)

Engine: Pratt & Whitney R985-AN1 Wasp Jr. 450 h.p .
Fuel Capacity: 46 US Gallons
Fuel Consumption: 19 gallons/hour
Endurance: 1.4 hours
Range: 200 Statute Miles
Oil Capacity: 6 US Gallons
Empty Weight: 2500 lbs.
Gross Weight: 3200 lbs.
Landing Speed: 50 MPH
Cruise Speed: 115-120 MPH @ 1900 RPM and 24.5″ MP
Max Speed: 186 MPH
8585 Total Aircraft Produced 1941-1945
1900 Still Active in United States
Cost: $5,930.00 in 1942 USD

Reserve your memorable tour today!

Group rates are available. We'll fly at an altitude of 800-1200' AGL with a course along the Colorado River, Rattlesnake Arches, and the Colorado National Monument.

Vintage Aviation

Offering scenic flights in our newly restored WWII era 1942 Boeing Stearman aircraft throughout most months of the year. Vintage Aviation can make dreams come true.

Experience

Your pilot, Randy Miller, started Vintage Aviation to share the exhilaration and thrill of flight in a vintage 1940's era open-cockpit, radial engine biplane.

History

The Boeing Stearman Model 75 "Kaydet" occupies a unique place in American aviation history. One of the best-known American biplanes and presently the most numerous, the "Stearman" has had four separate and distinct major careers over a span of 60+ years and the end is still not in sight.

Pricing

Book now to reserve one of our memorable tours of the Grand Valley. Your picture of you in the cockpit is a complimentary gift souvenir.

Book your flight

Please call 970-261-4220 or click the link to book now for your memorable, once in a lifetime experience!

Visit our Store

Purchase unique t-shirts, hats (coming soon), coffee cups (coming soon), videos of your flight and other items.

View our Gallery

See some of the flights of our happy customers over the last several years. Experience a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Contact Us

Have a question? Need to book on a specific day? Need us to come to your event, contact us today!

IN MEMORIAM

Gerald  M.  "Gerry"  Miller

October 8, 1927  -  March 6, 2022

 

Vintage Aviation Call us at (970) 261-4220 1048 R Road - Mack, CO 81525 USA 10CO