In 1950, the Aerophysics Department acquired a 1942 Boeing PT-17 Stearman that had been used as a flight trainer at Twenty-Nine Palms, California. Originally equipped with a Lycoming 225HP engine, the plane nearly shook itself apart on its flight back to its new home. The aircraft was then flown to Bessemer, Alabama, and a Wright 225HP was installed to replace the wore-out Lycoming.

Although it had a new engine, the rest of the plane was fairly well shot. It was taken to the welding shop in the back of the McCain Engineering Building on the MSU campus, and completely stripped. Much of the wooden structure came apart as the fabric was removed. However, the necessary repairs were made, and the Stearman continued its duty as a glider tow plane. The new Wright engine struggled as it took over 30 minutes for the plane, with glider in tow, to reach 10,000 feet. Mel Swartzberg flew the plane to Waco, Texas, and had a new 450HP engine installed, along with a Hamilton-Standard propellor. With the new combo, 10,000 feet could be attained in a mere 19.5 minutes.

During the 1940's and 1950's, many surplus Stearmans were used by agricultural pilots as crop-dusters. Several of these planes were involved in low-speed accidents that were attributed to irregular airflow. Gus Raspet used Mississippi State's example as a test bed for aerodynamic fairings and fillets that would smooth out the airflow over the surface of the aircraft, and sold the plans for his new pieces to the pilots for $5. If the pilots didn't have the money, he would give them the plans anyway, thus making Raspet a hero in the world of Mississippi agricultural aviation.

Mississippi State's Stearman underwent a total restoration and re-paint in 2002, and continues to serve as a tow-plane.
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