We have a couple Stearman’s on the field and my wife points them out and we have this conversation repeatedly, “Mike is out flying again today.” I reply “I don't think that was Mike.” “Yes it was!” Later I ask Mike, “Was that you flying your biplane this morning?” He replies, “No that was the Littlefields’s Stearman.” I reply, “I thought so.” “My N3N is up at our hangar in Concrete.” “Can't you tell the difference between a Stearman and an N3N?” Then he lists them for me, usually starting with the spar and airframe that were built out of aluminum, not wood and steel tubing.
https://notastearman.wordpress.com/specifications/n3n-versus-stearman/
I started out hang gliding, then got a homebuilt ultralight aircraft. My wife insisted that we get an airplane “she could go flying in too.” I have to admit that the ultralight and hang gliders and ultralight are still more fun in most ways, but if I killed myself in either type my life insurance won't cover me and my wife would try to kill me a second time.
My first aviation experience was a mil surplus parachute with several shrouds cut off at the back and a chunk of conduit and a pilfered swing set towed behind a 64 Plymouth. That ended when another guy fell out of it and broke both arms. I may be getting back in the air soon. I’m a BMW bike enthusiast and a friend of mine wants me to help him convert an 1100CC BMW twin to put in his Avid Flier. He’s offered borrowing rights as part of the deal.