The Boeing-Stearman Model 75 is a biplane produced primarily by Stearman Aircraft and later by Boeing in 1934, mainly as a military trainer aircraft in the 1930s and 1940s. After World War II, many war surplus Boeing-Stearman PT-17s were sold to the civilian market, serving as crop dusters and air show performers.
History[]
Crop duster pilot Russell Casse owned a Boeing-Stearman PT-17 in Imperial Valley. Due to Russel's eccentric behavior, Russel performed aerial stunts on the Stearman while dusting the farmlands. When the aliens arrived to Earth in 1996, Russell flown the Stearman over city hall and peppering it with leaflets, attempting to warn the public about the aliens.
The Stearman remained with Russell and his family, as it was towed from the Casses' motor home, and was brought all the way to Area 51.
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Behind the scenes[]
- The Boeing-Stearman PT-17 was the only actual flying airplane seen in Independence Day as all the other fighter jets, airliners and other planes were either mockups, models or digital creations.
- In the original ending of Independence Day, Russell used the PT-17 to make his suicide attack on the City Destroyer rather than the F/A-18 Hornet, as Russell was disallowed to fly.
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