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    This page documents a history of a specific aircraft. The details provided vary from aircraft to aircraft and are dependent on the research and amount of data uploaded to the Aerial Visuals database.

    Airframe Family: Stearman 4 Junior Speedmail / 80 / 81 Sportster
    Latest Model:4CM-1 Junior Speedmail
    Construction Number:4036
    Last Civil Registration:N488W
    Compressed ID:Stearman 4CM-1 cn 4036 cr N488W
    Latest Owner or Location:Antiquity Air Llc, Sebring, FL

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    Dates

    Event

    31 July 1931

    Constructed as a 4CM-1.
    At the Wichita, Kansas, factory of the Stearman Aircraft Corporation

    4 August 1931

    To American Airlines with new c/r NC488W.

    1933

    Involved in an incident.
    Damaged beyond economic repair in a 1933 landing accident.

    December 1933

    Permanently withdrawn from use.

    Circa 1934

    To Andy Anderson.

    Wreckage stored in a barn for several years.

    17 January 1982

    To Le Roy Brown.
    Sale comprised of damaged fuselage, landing gear, tail and data plate.

    8 April 1995

    To Mike Danforth of Robinsville, NC.

    25 August 2003

    To Todd Stuart.

    12 January 2004

    To Stuart Aviation Inc, Wilmington, DE with new c/r N488W.
    Based at Key West, Florida.

    June 2005

    Restoration completed.
    The plane was rebuilt from scratch by Jim and Kevin Kimball of Kimball Enterprises of Zellwood, Florida - Restored in Standard Oil of California colours, this Model 4 recreates ship #3 of the Stanavo Fleet. More than 7500 man hours were consumed in the restoration.

    1 July 2005

    First post-restoration Flight.
    First flight since 1933.

    5 April 2006


    Photographer: James Eubanks
    Notes: Sun-n-Fun, Lakeland FL

    2 July 2008


    Photographer: Wikimedia Commons,
    Notes: Stearman 4CM-1 Junior Speedmail NC488W serial 4036 taxiing past before flight during Geneseo, NY Airshow


    Photographer: Al DiGiulio

    13 August 2022


    Photographer: Al DiGiulio

    13 August 2022


    Photographer: Al DiGiulio

    13 December 2022

    To unknown owner with c/r N488W.
    Registration pending to a new owner in Sebring, FL.

    To Antiquity Air Llc, Sebring, FL keeping c/r N488W.

    21 June 2023

    To Antiquity Air Llc, Sebring, FL keeping c/r N488W.


    This dossier is waiting for review by an editor.This airframe dossier is based on
    unreviewed imported data.
    If you can verify the documented history or add to it with additional text and/or photos please feel free to do so by using the upload tool and the history editor.

    Credits
    Data for airframe dossiers come from various sources. The following were used to compile this dossier...

    Internet Sources
    Federal Aviation Administration in the United States of America

    Individual Contributors
    Al DiGiulio
    Terry Fletcher

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