- If he wasn't helping with the flying in any way whatsoever, why is there such a need for an engineer to be onboard the Stearman as there are surely very few faults he would be able to fix in mid-air?
If, as stated elsewhere here, the radio and GPS are fitted in the front cockpit then navigation for a navigationally challenged pilot might be more difficult and comms all but impossible.
If that fit is indeed the case then surely it is proof that the aircraft was never intended to be flown cross country solo, as it couldn't be.