stearman.net

The Stearman Restorers Association (SRA) accepts donations through two separate paths on its website: a general Donations section and a dedicated NSFI Donations option for the National Stearman Fly-In. Because the SRA is an independent "Not for Profit" 501(c)(3) corporation, gifts go toward its stated mission of preserving, restoring, and safely flying Stearman aircraft through member and public education. The site does not publish specific donation amounts, payment methods, or whether donations are tax-deductible, so confirm those details directly with the organization before giving.

Where donations fit in the SRA's structure

The SRA describes itself as dedicated to "the preservation, restoration, and safe flying of Stearman aircraft through the education of both members and the public," and says it is passionate about all models of Stearman biplanes. It reports over 1,000 members in 25 countries.

That mission statement is the clearest guide to what donations support: restoration and preservation work, safe flying, and educational activity for members and the public. The site does not itemize how donated funds are allocated, so treat any specific breakdown as something to ask the association about rather than assume.

The two donation entry points

The main menu lists Home, About Us, Join, News & Events, NSFI, Donations, Contact us. Donations and NSFI Donations are distinct items, which indicates the Fly-In has its own fundraising channel rather than being folded into general giving. If your interest is specifically the annual fly-in, the NSFI Donations path is the more targeted choice.

What the site does not tell you

The available page content does not include:

• Suggested or minimum donation amounts
• Accepted payment methods or platforms
• Whether donations are tax-deductible
• Any membership-versus-donation distinction in benefits

The 501(c)(3) designation is stated on the site, but the page evidence does not confirm deductibility language or receipt practices. If tax treatment matters to you, verify it with the SRA directly through the Contact us menu item.

Donating versus joining

Donations and membership are separate actions on this site. Joining the SRA is handled through the Join tab and comes with defined benefits: a one-year, three-year, or lifetime membership; The Flying Wire magazine, published quarterly in February, May, August, and November; and access to the Members Only section containing Forums, Knowledge Archive, Merchandise, and Classified Ads.

If what you want is the magazine, the forums, or the knowledge archive, membership is the route. If you simply want to support preservation and education work without member benefits, the Donations path fits that intent.

A practical way to decide

• You want the fly-in supported specifically → use NSFI Donations.
• You want general support for preservation and education → use Donations.
• You want member benefits like The Flying Wire or the Knowledge Archive → join instead, via the Join tab.
• You need amount, payment, or tax details → contact the SRA first; the site does not publish them.

One note for returning members: the site carries a notice that this is "the new site" and directs members to click for important log-in information, so the donation flow may sit behind the same membership software (Wild Apricot) that powers the rest of the site. Expect to interact with an account or login step rather than an anonymous one-click form, though the exact flow is not documented in the available content.

stearman.net is the official website of the Stearman Restorers Association (SRA), an independent not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and safe flying of Stearman aircraft through education of both members and the public. It serves as the organization's hub for membership, news, events, and member-only resources, and is aimed at anyone with an interest in Stearman biplanes—whether you're a pilot, restorer, mechanic, historian, or simply an aviation enthusiast.

What the Organization Does

The SRA describes itself as passionate about all models of Stearman biplanes. Its stated mission covers three connected areas:

• Preservation of Stearman aircraft
• Restoration of those aircraft
• Safe flying, supported through education of members and the public

The association reports over 1,000 members across 25 countries, a community that includes veterans, pilots, historians, mechanics, and enthusiasts.

What You'll Find on the Site

The main navigation reflects how the organization is structured:

A login area supports Google, Microsoft, and Apple sign-in, with a "remember me" option and password recovery. The site notes it is a new version and directs members to important log-in information.

Membership Benefits

Joining the SRA gives members access to:

• The Flying Wire magazine — published quarterly in February, May, August, and November, featuring historical content, insider tips on flying or restoring a Stearman, and contributions from other members
• The Members Only section — including Forums, a Knowledge Archive, Merchandise, and Classified Ads

Membership is offered for one year, three years, or a lifetime, with details under the "Join" tab.

A Recent Highlight: The 50th National Stearman Fly-In

The site's 2025 photo gallery covers the 50th National Stearman Fly-In, described as a record-setting event with more than 150 Stearmans in attendance. Photos were credited to Philip Wolford, Paul Fries, Bob Jesko, Paul Stevens, and Ted Bevenour.

Who Should Use This Site

If you love aviation history, find yourself drawn to biplanes at airshows or fly-ins, or own, fly, or restore a Stearman, the SRA site is built for you. It functions both as a public-facing introduction to the organization and as a gated resource library for paying members.

The National Stearman Fly-In (NSFI) is the annual gathering of Stearman aircraft and their owners, pilots, and enthusiasts, and it is one of the main events featured on stearman.net, the website of the Stearman Restorers Association (SRA). The 2025 edition was the 50th National Stearman Fly-In and was described by the SRA as a record-setting event with more than 150 Stearmans in attendance. If you want to see a large concentration of Stearman biplanes in one place, or you are an owner deciding whether the trip is worth it, the NSFI is the flagship occasion the SRA points to.

What the SRA says about the 2025 Fly-In

According to the SRA homepage, the 50th National Stearman Fly-In has concluded, and the site hosts a photo gallery of highlights from the event. The association credits Philip Wolford, Paul Fries, Bob Jesko, Paul Stevens, and Ted Bevenour for the photos. The headline figure the SRA highlights is attendance of more than 150 Stearmans, which it calls a record-setting turnout.

Where NSFI fits on the SRA website

NSFI is not buried inside a general news feed — it has its own place in the site's navigation:

• NSFI appears as a top-level menu item alongside Home, About Us, Join, News & Events, Donations, and Contact us.
• Donations is a separate menu item, so the site treats supporting the organization (including its activities) as a distinct action from reading about events.
• News & Events is where event-related updates live, while the NSFI section is the dedicated entry point for the fly-in itself.

This structure tells you how to use the site: go to NSFI for fly-in-specific content such as the photo gallery, and use News & Events for broader updates.

Who the fly-in is for

The SRA describes itself as an independent not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and safe flying of Stearman aircraft through education of members and the public. It states it is passionate about all models of Stearman biplanes and has over 1,000 members in 25 countries.

The fly-in reflects that same audience. The SRA's membership pitch names veterans, pilots, historians, mechanics, and enthusiasts. If you fall into any of those groups — or you simply find that biplanes always catch your attention at airshows or fly-ins — the NSFI is the event built around that interest.

What you can actually do with the NSFI content on the site

• Browse the 2025 photo gallery to see highlights from the 50th event, including the scale of the turnout.
• Check the NSFI menu section for fly-in-specific material rather than general association news.
• Use the Donations section if you want to support the organization's work, which the SRA frames around preservation, restoration, and safe flying.
• Join the SRA if you want more than public event coverage. Membership includes The Flying Wire magazine, published quarterly in February, May, August, and November, plus access to the Members Only area with Forums, Knowledge Archive, Merchandise, and Classified Ads.

Practical notes before you rely on the site

The homepage carries a notice that this is a new site and directs members to click through for important log-in information. Log-in options shown include Google, Microsoft, and Apple, along with a standard email/password form and a "Remember me" option. If you are a returning member and cannot get in, that log-in notice is the first thing to check rather than assuming your account is gone.

The site does not state NSFI dates, locations, or registration details on the homepage beyond confirming the 2025 event is over. For those specifics, the NSFI and News & Events sections are the places to look.

Bottom line

The National Stearman Fly-In is the SRA's annual Stearman gathering, and the 2025 edition — the 50th — drew more than 150 Stearmans according to the association. On stearman.net it has its own menu section and a photo gallery of highlights. If you want to attend, follow the NSFI section for future event information; if you want year-round access to restoration and flying knowledge, SRA membership is the route the site lays out.

The Stearman Restorers Association (SRA) members area uses a standard login page with several sign-in options: a site account with email and password, or single sign-on through Google, Microsoft, or Apple. If you are an existing member who has not yet logged in since the site moved to its new platform, the association has posted a notice directing members to "important log-in information" before their first attempt — check that notice first, because your old credentials may not carry over automatically.

Where the login lives

The login form appears in the site menu, alongside Home, About Us, Join, News & Events, NSFI, Donations, and Contact us. The same login block is repeated in the page footer, so you can reach it from either the top menu or the bottom of any page.

Sign-in options

There is also a "Remember me" checkbox if you want the browser to keep you signed in, and a "Forgot password" link if you cannot get in with your site credentials.

Step-by-step

1. Open stearman.net and find the login form in the menu or footer.
2. If this is your first visit since the site relaunch, read the members' log-in notice linked from the homepage before entering anything.
3. Choose one method:
   • Enter your site email and password, then click Log in.
   • Or click Log in with Google, Log in with Microsoft, or Log in with Apple and complete the provider's prompt.
4. Optionally tick "Remember me" before submitting.
5. Expected result: you land in the Members Only section.

What you get once inside

The Members Only area contains the Forums, Knowledge Archive, Merchandise, and Classified Ads, plus other member resources. Membership also includes The Flying Wire magazine, published quarterly in February, May, August, and November, with historical content, flying and restoration tips, and member contributions.

Common snags

• Old credentials rejected. The site is described as new, and members were specifically pointed to log-in information — this strongly suggests a migration step (such as resetting a password or linking a social login) is needed before the first successful sign-in.
• Wrong provider. If you originally registered with an email/password but click a Google or Apple button, you may create or hit a different account. Use the method tied to your membership.
• Password not working. Use "Forgot password" rather than retrying repeatedly.
• Not a member yet. Login only helps existing members. New members join for one year, three years, or a lifetime via the Join tab; the SRA reports over 1,000 members across 25 countries.

If login still fails after a password reset, use the Contact us link rather than guessing, since the association manages accounts through its membership software.

The Stearman Restorers Association (SRA) is a fit for anyone with a serious interest in Stearman biplanes — veterans, pilots, historians, mechanics, and general aviation enthusiasts. Membership runs for one year, three years, or a lifetime, and it includes a quarterly magazine plus access to a members-only section of the site with forums, a knowledge archive, merchandise, and classified ads.

Who the SRA is for

The association describes itself as an independent not-for-profit 501(c)(3) corporation dedicated to the preservation, restoration, and safe flying of Stearman aircraft through education of both members and the public. It states that it is passionate about all models of Stearman biplanes.

According to the site, the SRA has over 1,000 members across 25 countries. The organization explicitly invites "thousands of veterans, pilots, historians, mechanics, and enthusiasts" to join.

You are likely a good fit if any of these describe you:

• You own, fly, maintain, or are restoring a Stearman.
• You are interested in aviation history and biplanes generally.
• You stop at airshows or fly-ins whenever a biplane is on the field.
• You want to learn from people who fly and restore these aircraft rather than from general aviation sources.

If your interest is in aviation broadly but not in Stearman aircraft specifically, the value of membership is narrower, since the magazine, archive, and classifieds are centered on this type.

What membership includes

The magazine is the core recurring benefit: it is where the historical material and restoration/flying tips are published, and it arrives four times a year. The members-only area is the second pillar — the forums and Knowledge Archive are where member-to-member knowledge exchange happens, while the Classified Ads section is relevant if you are buying, selling, or sourcing parts and aircraft.

How to join

1. Go to stearman.net.
2. Select the Join tab in the site menu.
3. Choose your membership term — one year, three years, or lifetime — and complete the sign-up.

The site notes that it has recently moved to a new site and that existing members should look for the posted "important log-in information" before signing in. If you are a returning member and your credentials do not work, that notice is the first thing to check rather than creating a new account.

Practical notes before you decide

• Log-in options: The site supports signing in with Google, Microsoft, or Apple, alongside a standard email/password log-in with a "remember me" option and a password reset link.
• Platform: The site runs on Wild Apricot membership software, which is why membership terms and the members-only area are handled through an account rather than a one-off purchase.
• Pricing: The site's public pages do not state membership prices. Check the Join page for current rates before committing to a term.
• Event context: The 50th National Stearman Fly-In drew more than 150 Stearmans, which gives a sense of the scale of the community you would be joining.

A reasonable way to decide

If you want the quarterly magazine and ongoing access to the forums, archive, and classifieds, a one-year membership is the low-commitment way to test whether the content matches your interests. If you are already deep into Stearman ownership, restoration, or research, the three-year or lifetime options avoid renewing repeatedly. If you mainly want to attend fly-ins and look at aircraft, the public event coverage may be enough without joining — membership pays off when you want the written material and the member community.