CAF Airbase Georgia Completes Six-Year Restoration of WWII Stearman
Historic Navy Trainer Restored in Honor of Rosie the Riveters
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. (Sept. 21, 2026) – After six years of restoration work by members of Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Airbase Georgia, a 1941 Boeing N2S-2 Kaydet is ready to take its place among the Airbase’s collection of historic military aircraft. The World War II-era biplane trainer, commonly known as a Stearman, will be formally welcomed to the Airbase Georgia fleet during a ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce on Sept. 24.
Bringing Airbase Georgia’s Stearman back to life took six years of work by the unit’s volunteer members. The completed aircraft wears U.S. Navy livery and joins a growing list of significant restoration projects the Airbase has undertaken. Those projects include the Airbase’s rare Bell P-63 Kingcobra, LT-6 Mosquito and PT-19 Cornell used to train Tuskegee Airmen. Each represents Airbase Georgia’s commitment not only to preserving historic military aircraft, but also to telling the stories of the people who built, maintained, and flew them.
The beginning of a six-year restoration in 2020. The CAF Airbase Georgia’s Stearman project started with a bare airframe, boxes of parts/pieces, and a dedicated team of volunteers. |
Airbase Georgia members Roy Handler, Mark Chabot, Robert Karge, and Forest Buchanan mount the Stearman’s propeller at the end of the six-year restoration. Photo by Charles Burcher. |
A Trainer That Taught America to Fly
Introduced by Boeing's Stearman Aircraft Division in Wichita, Kansas, the two-seat Kaydet became one of the most important military trainers of World War II. Airbase Georgia’s N2S-2 was manufactured for the U.S. Navy in 1941. The Army Air Forces operated its own versions of the Kaydet, including the familiar PT-17.
More than 8,428 Stearmans were manufactured for use by the United States, and over the aircraft’s 11 years of military service, more American military pilots learned to fly in the Stearman than in any other similar airplane. The rugged trainer featured fabric-covered wooden wings and an over-built welded-steel fuselage.
Stearmans also served beyond the United States, with trainers supplied to Canada, China, the Philippines, Venezuela, Argentina and Brazil for military and civilian use.
Honoring Rosie the Riveters & Next Steps
The restoration also connects to World War II. Airbase Georgia dedicated the Stearman to “Rosie the Riveter,” the cultural icon representing the women whose work in American factories and shipyards helped transform the nation into the Arsenal of Democracy. That connection became part of the restoration itself.
“Our Stearman is especially significant because we decided to complete it in honor of all Rosie the Riveters of World War II,” said Airbase Leader Mark Richards. “Even further, several of our women members worked on the restoration, learning to do much of the critical fabric work that covers the entire aircraft. We can’t thank the entire team enough for the outstanding, dedicated work they have done to bring this aircraft to life.”
The work is particularly fitting for an aircraft constructed with fabric-covered wings, a feature that made fabric work an important part of the original Stearman design. “We have some steps to complete before this airplane will be offering rides to the public, but we can promise the experience will be unforgettable,” Richards said.
The Stearman will be formally celebrated Sept. 24 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Fayette County Chamber of Commerce. As part of the celebration, Airbase Georgia will raffle a pair of tickets to its Moonlight Swing gala on Oct. 17. The Chamber’s Citizen’s Choice Awards celebration will follow the ribbon-cutting.
Check out this Restoration Update video from Spring 2023.
Completing the Stearman also comes as Airbase Georgia looks toward the future of its historic aircraft collection. At its Moonlight Swing gala, the Airbase plans to announce details of a hangar expansion that will provide additional facilities for housing, maintaining and preserving its aircraft. The expansion will also support the Airbase’s growing educational mission and community engagement.
About CAF Airbase Georgia
CAF Airbase Georgia, based in Peachtree City, Georgia, was founded in 1987 and is one of the Commemorative Air Force's largest units. Its collection includes a P-51 Mustang, SBD Dauntless, P-63A Kingcobra, PT-19 Cornell, T-34 Mentor, and the newly restored Stearman. An FG-1D Corsair and P-47 Thunderbolt are also undergoing restoration. More than 300 volunteer members support the Airbase and its mission, and the organization is a founding partner of the Georgia WWII Heritage Trail.
