Warbird Information Exchange

Hey Doug,

Yep, it is indeed the same exact airframe as the PT-19, (same as the PT-26 too, except it doesn't have the enclosed canopy).

Fairchild was one of those aircraft builders that not only built the aircraft, but they also built the engine too (the Ranger). When production demands became so great due to the military need for this new design PT (more like the fighters the guys would fly later than the bi-winged beasts Boeing was selling them), the powers that be said they needed to find another supplier for engines so they could just concentrate on the aircraft.

In the end, Fairchild couldn't even keep up with producing the aircraft, and Howard, Aeronca, St. Louis, Fleet, etc. were kept busy building the Fairchild PT too.

Great airplane! I think you get way more bang for your buck with one of the Fairchilds than the over priced Stearmans, plus you have something a little more unique.

Thanks for the excellent pics Scott!

Steve

Yeah Doug, what Steve said. The PT-23 is actually just about a foot shorter in overall length, I'm guessing due to the engine configuration.

The PT-19's had, I think, 180 HP, the PT-23 had 220, and the PT-26 came in with a 200 HP Ranger.

I also think that I read that another reason that the PT's came about was the feeling that the Stearmans were too easy to fly and did not have the "feel" of the fighters that the students would graduate into.

Thanks, Steve!

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Steve-

While the Fairchild and Ryan PT's were more modern in design than the Stearman it was well recognized during WWII that the Fairchild PT's were in fact almost too easy to fly, the opposite was true of the Ryan PT's which were replaced late in the war at many schools. Something similar occurred with the BT-13/15 in that late in the war some schools used the AT-6 for Basic. Both the Fairchild PT's and the Vultee BT's are among the easiest conventional gear aircraft to land due to gear geometry and low CG relative to the Stearman.................still one of the best trainers built. All of the WWII Primary trainers were excellent aircraft, even the rare N2T.

Tom-

Thanks for that info Scott. I had never heard the statement about the Stearman being easier to fly before, but rather as Tom mentioned above, that the Fairchilds were easier.

The Fairchilds were designed more like the majority of the fighters the recruits would eventually fly (no braced wings like the Ryans and no top wings like the Boeings, Wacos, and NAF PT's).

As Tom said, the Ryan PT-22 probably ended up being the closest in flight characteristics to the fighters (not talking about power output from the Kinner here obviously), due to the wing sweep back, etc.

You will love flying in that new Cornell!

Steve

P.S. In my experience (and I am no expert on any of this stuff) the Stearman is easy to fly too, just don't let your attention wander on touch down and practice those crosswind landings.

Steve-

I agree 100% with everything you've said. The PT-22 was replaced because the Kinner was not as servicable as the Lycomings, Continentals, and Jacobs' used in Stearmans and the slight wing sweep and reduced wing area caused the Ryan to surprise more than a few students, as did the ratcheting flap handle.

The Stearman is as honest an aircraft as has ever been built, just be sure it's straight and not drifting on landing, it can easily be landed in cross winds that have most tri-cycle gear private pilots grounded. The Stearman flies much like a Champ or Citabria, except it's got poor visibility, a high CG, and when you pull the nose up it has the drag of two Citabrias strapped together with only one engine running.

Tom-

[quote="Mark D"]Here are some of the restoration photos taken about twelve years ago. I think it took about one year and a few months.

Mark D

Hi Mark,
It was a pleasure meeting you and seeing you fly at New Garden. I'm sending you a disk of images, but here's a few for everyone to look at.

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Rich Kolasa
www.crystalgraphix.com

Sweet pictures Rich! You're a lucky Dude!

Here's some additional info that may have led to my earlier comments.

http://www.warbirdalley.com/pt19.htm

For what it is worth.

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."

Hey Rich

Great photos!! Nice touch with FG taxing up the ramp. Now everybody knows what I look like

Here is a nice air to air taken by Jon Martin from his L-2

Some of us already know what you look like!
Jerry

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."

Yeah Mark, you can run now but you can't hide!!!

Cheers

_________________
Greg Witmer, V.P. of Operations
Airboss / Ground Boss / WWII Aircraft Coordinator
David Schultz Airshows LLC

Hey, I know that guy!

Where's the ramp security when you need them?

The thread has gone off the front page for over a week and I had meant post again long before now, but computer problems got in the way.

After my first post Henning asked if I had information on other examples of the type. Mark D then posted several pictures of the beautiful restoration they did for Bob Tullius - on which I had done a little delving. So here goes....

Unlike Cornell 10618, this example, RCAF 14554 was paid for from Lend-Lease funds and has usual multiple identities. Ordered under USAAF contract AC-30109 which included 290 PT-26A built by Fleet Aircraft Ltd. and received by the RCAF in exchange for 286 Boeing PT-27 which were returned to the USAAF at the end of 1942. Assigned an USAAF serial 42-71130, but only shown on the plates, Built with the Fleet A/c Ltd. construction no. FT715, which was also the RAF serial and again these identities are only shown on the plates. As in Mark's photographs, only the RCAF serial, 14554 was displayed.

Taken on strength by the RCAF's No.3 Training Command in August 1943 and assigned to No.11 Elementary Flying Training School at Cap de la Madeleine, Province of Quebec.
By November 1943 14554 was serving with No.3 Flying Instructor's School at Arnprior in Ontario and when the school closed in January 1944, the Cornell along the rest of the school's fleet , was transferred to Reserve Storage at Arnprior.

June 1944 and back to active use, this time with to No.10 E.F.T.S. at Pendleton, Ontario when the school was converting from DH82C Tiger Moth to Cornell.
Returned to Reserve Storage in December 1944 and from now on the trail becomes less certain. The record card suggests Cornell 14554 returned to further service in January 1945, but where is not clear. It may have remained with No.10 E.F.T.S but there are indications it may have been reassigned to No.13 E.F.T.S., first at St. Eugene, Ontario - later moving to St. John, PQ. (St. Jean). Both these schools closed during September 1945 after which date 14554 is classified as "Aircraft Pending Disposal at Location" and the location is given as #5 Reserve Equipment Maintenance Unit, St. John.

Incidentally, No.13 E.F.T.S undertook elementary flying training of pilots for the Royal Navy.

In August 1946 RCAF 14554 and over 150 locally stored Cornells were transferred to the Foreign Liquidation Corporation and ferried via Niagara Falls Airport, NY to the USA for surplus sale.

Became N79508 and later N75LD. Is it now on display in Florida?

Tony Broadhurst

On a slightly different tack...

TAdan posted a photograph of PT-23 N62476 also seen at the Reading show.
As several members of the Fairchild fraternity have posted on this thread and as no one has commented I would like to draw attention to the markings on this PT-23.

I have not any documentery proof but if the tail number is correct this is 42-2962. Fairchild built one XPT-23 and two PT-23s - all the other PT-23 and PT-23As were built by the subcontractors. The two PT-23s were 42-2961 and 42-2962. Looking at the FAA registry N62476 has a Fairchild construction no of T42-6001. This is the only Fairchild serial in the 6000 series I have come across and I strongly suspect the series was set aside for PT-23 production and making T42-6000, 42-2961 and T42-6001, 42-2962.

If this is the case it would make N62476 a particularly interesting example of the marque.

Tony Broadhurst

Would that be Bob Tulius of Group 44 Triumph racing fame? I knew him many years ago, 1960's when he had the best group of prepared cars at Road America.

What is he doing now and what is his aircraft interest? Thanks,

_________________
"There are old pilots and bold pilots but few old, bold pilots."