Fairchild PT-19

The Fairchild PT-19 (company designation Fairchild M62) is an American monoplane primary trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces, RAF and RCAF during World War II. Designed by Fairchild Aircraft, it was a contemporary of the Kaydet biplane trainer, and was used by the USAAF during Primary Flying Training. As with other USAAF trainers of the period, the PT-19 had multiple designations based on the powerplant installed.

Design and development

According to H.L. Puckett, "Still U.S. pilots were receiving their primary flight training in biplanes, although the low wing advance trainer was in use. A look around showed that there was no low wing primary trainer being produced in the U.S. Fairchild felt this urgency and set his organization at work on such a low wing trainer with the proposal that the new proven Ranger be used as the power plant for the new airplane to be known as the M-62. The M-62, which was to become the PT-19, was to use the experience gained from the F-24 and the more recent Model 46."

In 1933, Fairchild Aircraft Corporation's chief engineer, A.A. Gassner, had hired Armand Thiebolt, as his chief structural engineer. In 1937, Thiebolt was named chief engineer, and given the task of designing the PT-19. Included in the design was the use of interchangeable parts and non-strategic materials. According to Puckett, "The proposed low wing design adapted itself readily to a wide tread landing gear, which when combined with judicious wheel location and a low center of gravity, provided protection against ground looping." The Ranger engine would also result in a narrower cowling compared to those using a radial engine, which meant increased visibility for the pilot. The reduced cowling also improved propeller efficiency and an increase in horsepower. In 1941, mass production began and 3,181 of the PT-19A model, powered by the 200 hp L-440-3, were made by Fairchild. An additional 477 were built by Aeronca and 44 by the St. Louis Aircraft Corporation. The PT-19B, of which 917 were built, was equipped for instrument flight training by attaching a collapsible hood to the front cockpit.

When airplane production exceeded engine production, the PT-23 was prototyped by Fairchild. Except for the engine, the airplane was identical from the firewall rearwards. According to Puckett, "The second protype PT-23 was the only one of these airplanes which was painted Air Corps blue and yellow." Subsequent to this incident, the USAAF incorporated a demand for all-metal wing sections on all future fixed-wing training aircraft.

Operational history

thumb|Radial engined PT-23 Cornell built by Aeronca, privately flown in 1990

Compared to the earlier biplane trainers, the Fairchild PT-19 provided a more advanced type of aircraft. Speeds were higher and wing loading more closely approximated that of combat aircraft, with flight characteristics demanding more precision and care. Its virtues were that it was inexpensive, simple to maintain and, most of all, virtually viceless.

These planes were delivered to various bases all over the country by WASPs (Women's Airforce Service Pilots) between 1942-1944.

Thousands of the PT-19 series were rapidly integrated into the United States and Commonwealth training programs, serving throughout World War II and beyond. Even after their retirement in the late 1940s, a substantial number found their way onto the United States and other civil registers, being flown by private pilot owners.

Variants

thumb|Fairchild PT-19 - Ranger L-440-1 Engine (Aircraft # 40-2418)

thumb|Fairchild PT-19 used in the [[Little Norway training camp. Now at the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum]]

thumb|

;PT-19

:Initial production variant of the Model M62 powered by 175 hp L-440-1, 270 built.

;PT-19A

:As the PT-19 but powered by a 200 hp L-440-3 and detailed changes, redesignated T-19A in 1948, 3226 built.

;PT-19B

:Instrument training version of the PT-19A, 143 built and six conversions from PT-19A.

;XPT-23A

:A PT-19 re-engined with a 220 hp R-670-5 radial engine.

;PT-23

:Production radial-engined version, 774 built.

;PT-23A

:Instrument training version of the PT-23, 256 built.

;PT-26

:PT-19A variant with enclosed cockpit for training in Canada under the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan, powered by a 200hp L-440-3, 670 built for the Royal Canadian Air Force as the Cornell I.

;PT-26A

:As PT-26 but with a 200hp L-440-7 engine, 807 built by Fleet as the Cornell II.

;PT-26B

:As PT-26A with minor changes, 250 built as the Cornell III.

Operators

thumb|Fairchild PT-26B Cornell in flying condition at the [[Commonwealth Air Training Plan Museum, Brandon, Manitoba, 2005.]]

thumb|Fairchild PT-19 Cornell at Norway's Flysamlingen Forsvarets Museer (Norwegian Armed Forces Aircraft Collection). This model was built for Norway as training aircraft.

;

Brazilian Air Force

;

Royal Canadian Air Force

;

Chilean Air Force

;

Colombian Air Force

;

Ecuadorian Air Force

;

Guatemalan Air Force

;

Haiti Air Corps

;

Honduran Air Force - PT-23

;

Indian Air Force

;

Nicaraguan Air Force

;

Royal Norwegian Air Force In the 1950s, 14 ex-Brazilian Air Force PT-19s (PT-3FG built under license in Brazil) were received. The last PT-19 was retired in 1972.

;

Peruvian Air Force

;

Philippines Air Force

;

South African Air Force
Uruguayan Navy

;

Aviación Militar received 20 PT-19As under Lend Lease.

Surviving aircraft

thumb|Fairchild PT-19 at the [[Cavanaugh Flight Museum]]

, there were 98 airworthy aircraft worldwide.

One example is found at the Travis Air Force Base Aviation Museum, Travis Air Force Base, Fairfield, California.
Another is in storage at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.
Fairchild PT-26A-FE Cornell II 'N58799' is flying in the Netherlands
Fairchild PT-19A (283435) is flying in Alabama with the Birmingham Escadrille of the Commemorative Air Force after a 22 year restoration started in 1986.
Fairchild PT-19 (42-34382) is maintained in flying condition by Butler County Warbirds military history museum in Middletown, Ohio.

Specifications (PT-19A)

Notes

Bibliography

Andrade, John, U.S .Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909 Midland Counties Publications, 1979, .
Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1948. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., 1948.
Bridgman, Leonard. Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1951–52. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Company, Ltd., 1951.
Fricker, John. "Fuerza Aérea Paraguaya: Latin America's vest-pocket air force". Air International, Vol. 38 No. 5, May 1990. pp. 255–261.
Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II (Hamlyn Concise Guide). London: Bounty Books, 2006. .
"Shoestring Top Cover...The Uruguayan Air Force". Air International, Vol. 39 No. 2, August 1990. pp. 65–73.
Steinemann, Peter. "Protector of the Plate". Air International, Vol. 42, No. 2, February 1992. pp. 73–78. .
Swanborough, F.G. and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, 1963.
Taylor, Michael J.H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation Vol. 3. London: Studio Editions, 1989. .
"Venezuela Refurbishes Her Aerial Sombrero". Air International, Vol. 5 No. 3, September 1973. pp. 118–124, 150.
"The World's Air Forces". Flight. Vol. 67, No. 2416, 13 May 1955. pp. 615–668.

External links

Cavanaugh Flight Museum PT-19
Golden Wings Flying Museum Fairchild PT-19A