The Model 75 was originally developed by Stearman in the early 1930s, with the first prototype flying in October 1934. Boeing acquired the company around the same time, and continued to improve upon it. In 1936, it was evaluated by the United States Army Air Corps, who accepted it and gave it the initial designation of PT-13. The Navy soon followed suit. The aircraft received the PT-17 designation upon the replacement of its Lycoming R-680 engine with a more powerful Continental R-670-5, and at that point was being produced by the thousands. Despite its design growing outdated fairly quickly, the PT-17 was well liked for its simplicity and ruggedness, and was exported to several Allied nations during and after the war. In fact, the nickname "Kaydet" originated from Canada, who operated the