1929 Stearman “Jr. Speedmail” Model 4 - NC663K

Owner/Pilot: Ben Scott

On November 29, 1929, Keith Scott placed his verbal order for a Stearman Model 4E biplane. With options including a reserve fuel tank, retracting landing lights, flare tubes for night landings, radio, wheel pants and a “relief tube,” the final delivery price was $18,107.50 – quite a hefty sum for 1929. But the investment was certainly worth it. Lloyd Stearman referred to her as the finest airplane he ever built. She was faster than military planes of the day, faster than the other mail planes. She was also larger than most biplanes, seating two passengers in the big front cockpit. Model 4s built for mail service had a front mail pit and were known as Speedmail Seniors. The passenger variant was called the Speedmail Junior.

Of the 40 model 4 Stearmans built, only 11 were 4Es. The 4E substituted the big Pratt and Whitney 1340 Wasp, with 450 horsepower, for the 300 horsepower Wasp Junior and Wright engines used on other models. This earned her the nickname “Bull Stearman.” This gave her the range to fly Reno to Los Angeles nonstop, the power to climb straight west out of Reno without circling. She was definitely the “Cadillac” of executive airplanes of the 1930s. Standard Oil had four.

The “Bull” took her place in the Scott Motor Company fleet, joining a C3B Stearman and Fokker F10 and Ford 5AT tri-motor. Of the four airplanes, the C3B and Ford were destroyed in accidents and the Fokker dismantled. Only the "Bull” remains.

In 1930 Keith was flying the Speedmail and driving a 1926 Pierce Arrow. He never sold the Pierce, but in 1942 sold the Stearman. In those days civilians could not fly in the Coastal Defense Zone, so Keith sold his airplane to Carbury Dusters and joined Douglas Aircraft. He flew the famous DC-3, DC-4, A20 and A26.

The old “Bull” became a crop duster, and then was left to rot in place. The remains were purchased in 1965 by well-known antiquer Robert Penny, Jr. and restored with the help of original mechanic Ansel Smith. Lloyd Stearman witnessed the restoration’s first flight in 1971. He got the first ride and pronounced her the finest airplane he ever built.

In 1972 United Airlines Captain Dan Wine of Denver purchased the Speedmail. Dan continued to lavish loving care and further restoration on the old airplane. As the only 4E flying, the “Bull” attracted a lot of attention. Years later, an old friend sent Keith Scott a newspaper article about the plane, and that led to contact with Dan Wine.

Eventually Dan came to Reno and negotiations began. On October 17, 1985, Dan flew the Speedmail to Reno. His last entry in the logbook was “Battle Mountain to Reno. Returned to original owner Keith Scott, welcome home!” The first passenger then was Keith Scott. Perhaps, at 81, he was taking his first ride as a passenger.

So in 1985 this magnificent old lady was back with her family. She resides at the Yesterday’s Flyers museum in Carson City. She was back with her family to stay and was often seen in Reno skies. She is distinguished by her black fuselage and yellow wings, the lower one much the shorter, and by the unique rumble of that big, slow turning 1340 cubic inch engine. Then 55, she was as beautiful as ever.

In the following years 663K flew all over the west and as far East as Galesburg, Illinois. Pilots were Keith’s son Ben and grandson Kelly. The Speedmail was a regular visitor to the Watsonville Fly In and the Cottage Grove Stearman Fly In. Several notable Stearman restorers, including Addison Pemberton, came to visit, touch the touchstone, photograph and measure.

In December 1999, the airplane was flown to Placerville, California. There Rick Atkins of Ragtime Aero was to undertake a complete restoration. He had just completed the restoration of Steve Hamilton’s Standard Oil Speedmail. Steve had done extensive research and discovered photographs of engineering and trim detail not previously available.

The airplane was completely disassembled, a frightening sight. The wings were beautifully rebuilt by Jim Shannon. Instruments, including the rare Paulin Altimeter, were restored by Instrument Pro. Al Holloway refurbished the Pratt and Whitney R1340-SC1 and painted the case the original green color. Steve Hamilton created the proper wing walk material and the unusual paint used on the panel and floor. Rick Atkins and his many Placerville helpers did incredible fabric and paint work to the original colors. The wolf head insignia was copied in gold leaf from an original that remains in the family.

In 2003 NC663K was named Grand Champion Antique at Airventure in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. She then participated in the National Air Tour, a 4000 mile antique odyssey around the eastern half of the US. In 2004 she won the Rolls Royce Heritage Trophy for the West at the Reno National Championship Air Races.

“The Bull” resides at Carson City, Nevada. She shares a hangar with a red 1944 Howard DGA-15P. To the DGA she gives no quarter in climb, but 10 knots in cruise. At 75 she’s as beautiful as ever, the grande dame to three generations.