Classic Aero-TV: Profiles in Aviation – Ed McKeown’s Rearwin Cloudster | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

 Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-12.01.25

AirborneNextGen-
12.02.25

Airborne-Unlimited-12.03.25

Airborne-FltTraining-12.04.25

AirborneUnlimited-12.05.25

AFE 2025 LIVE MOSAIC Town Hall (Archived): www.airborne-live.net

Fri, Mar 25, 2022

Classic Aero-TV: Profiles in Aviation – Ed McKeown’s Rearwin Cloudster

From 2009 (YouTube Version): Ed McKeown Introduces His Award-Winning Rearwin Restoration

Inspired by the world’s newfound aviation intrigue, Raymond Andrew Rearwin, along with his sons Royce and Ken, started Rearwin Airplanes in 1928.  Bursting into the industry scene during the “Golden Age of Aviation,” the company designed and built more than 400 aircraft before closing in 1946.  

Among the instrument trainers and gliders, Rearwin Airplanes debuted the Rearwin Cloudster in 1939; featuring strut-braced high-wings, the aircraft included an enclosed cabin and fixed, tailskid undercarriage.  Though the Cloudster’s commercial success was poor, the airplane has remained a namesake among antique aviation enthusiasts.

Approximately 124 Rearwin Cloudsters were built, with four variants on the market.  Designed to be a larger, more commanding successor of the Rearwin Sportster, the Cloudster marked the progression from tandem seating to side-by-side seating for Rearwin Airplanes.  

The 8090 and 8125 models featured side-by-side seating, while the 8135 model featured a three-seat arrangement.  Shortly after their debut, an estimated twenty aircraft, designated as 8135T, were modified to tandem seating for Pan Am instrument flying trainers.

Today, an estimated six Rearwin Cloudsters remain airworthy.  One of them, however, to the excitement of enthusiasts, arrived at the 2009 Antique Aircraft Association’s annual gathering.  

Ed McKeown debuted his authentic restoration at the Blakesburg Fly-In nearly 70 years after its first test flight. Chosen for Chapter Choice at the AAA’s Fly-In, McKeown’s Rearwin Cloudster also won the 2009 Classic Grand Champion and the Rearwin Family Award.

FMI: www.antiqueairfield.com, www.rearwin.com/index.asp, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork, http://twitter.com/AeroNews
 


Advertisement

More News

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (12.04.25): Cooperative Surveillance

Cooperative Surveillance Any surveillance system, such as secondary surveillance radar (SSR), wide-area multilateration (WAM), or ADS-B, that is dependent upon the presence of cert>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.04.25)

Aero Linx: OX5 Aviation Pioneers Incorporated in 1955 as a Pa 501 (c)(3) Not for Profit Corporation, the OX5 Aviation Pioneers is dedicated to bringing before the public the accomp>[...]

NTSB Prelim: Extra Flugzeugproduktions EA 300/SC

The Pilot Appeared To Regain Control After Six Rotations And Attempted To “Fly Out” Inverted But Had Insufficient Altitude On November 8, 2025, at 1038 eastern standard>[...]

Classic Aero-TV: The Bally Bomber - The All Time Ultimate Warbird Replica?

From 2018 (YouTube Edition): Aero-News Talks With The Airplane's Builder One of the many unique airplanes at AirVenture 2018 was a 1/3-scale B-17 bomber built by Jack Bally, who ta>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Linx (12.05.25)

Aero Linx: Society of U.S. Army Flight Surgeons (SoUSAFS) The Society of US Army Flight Surgeons (SoUSAFS) serves to advance the science and art of Aerospace Medicine and its allie>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Change Display

Headlines Only | Headlines w/ Teasers | View Everything

Advertisement

Top Videos

Airborne 10.03.25: Phantom 3500 Buy, ‘Chinese Military Company’, NOTAM Redesign

Airborne Affordable Flyers 10.02.25: MOSAIC Start Date, AFE25 Tickets, ePulitzer

Airborne 10.01.25: New Gulfstream G300, Affordable Flying Expo Tkts, Starship 11

See All

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2025 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC