Hi WWIIABN,
I do not fly or operate a PT-26, or indeed any aircraft. The service and production history of the Fairchild PT series has interested me for some years and I have collected various resources on the type.
The Pilot Training Manual for the Fairchild PT series states
..."MIXTURE CONTROLS. - Full forward for full-rich mixture on all models except PT-26. On PT-26 full aft for rich mixture and forward for lean mixture."The manual also contains a photograph of the cockpit floor indicating the location of the cockpit heater shutter and there would have been a similar shutter in each cockpit.
There is also a photograph of the PT-26 instrument panel which shows both a compass and directional gyro integral with these panels. It is my understanding that the "Pilot Training Manual For the Army Models... Fairchild PT-19 PT-19A, 19B, PT-23, 26 T.O. NO. 01-115GA-1" relates only to the Fairchild-built PT-26, known in the RCAF and RAF as the Cornell Mark I.
The RCAF issued their own "Pilot's Notes for the Cornell II Aeroplane, C.A.P. 200". The cockpit photograph in the RCAF manual shows the compass mounted on the floor as you report. In fact looking at the panel there would barely be room for a compass. I assume therefore your brother's Cornell is a Mark II built by Fleet Aircraft Ltd., of Fort Erie, Ontario.
The description of the cockpit in the Canadian manual states
..."Cockpit heating is taken from and intensifier tube mounted inside the the exhaust manifold and led to outlets in both cockpits. Heat is controlled by a control handle which is operated from either cockpit, but not independently".The PT-26 was an adaption of the PT-19 designed specifically for use by the RCAF and RAF in Canada and entered service in July 1942. The training programmes throughout the Air Forces of the British Commonwealth and Dominions were closely tied to that of the RAF as were the aircraft, aircrews and man power. I understand the RAF elementary syllabus which included instrument and night exercises was used at all of the Elementary Flying Training Schools throughout Africa, Australia, Canada, India, the Middle East, New Zealand and the UK. There can be little doubt the weather over Britain and Europe, plus the RAF's preference for night bombing played a part in this greater emphasis instrument practice. Thus, PT-26's instruments included something similar to the standardardised RAF blind flying panel - and for Canadian use, a cockpit heater. The PT-27 Stearman which lacked both of these (and a canopy) had only a short career in the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan schools. The Norwegian flying school in Canada, whose graduates joined the Norwegian squadrons of the RAF, adopted the Fairchild M-62A in 1940. These M-62As were soon modified to incorporate gyro instruments and fitted with canopies. It is likely the early Norwegian experience of the type influenced the modifications the RCAF and RAF required of the M-62A.
The throttle and mixture arrangement is similar to that of the Harvard. Quote from "Harvard!" by Fletcher and Macphail
...."In the Harvard, the mixture control was pulled back for rich mixture - the reverse of it's cousin, the Texan, in which the mixture was pulled back for lean! The Harvard system, although the reverse of the logical movement, was well thought out: a small catch ensured that if the throttle was retarded it enriched the the mixture at the same time, thereby preventing inadvertant excessive leaning of the fuel mixture and consequent engine damage". Presumably this was the standard arrangement in RAF aircraft of the time.
In my experience most of those who completed their elementary flying training on Cornells considered themselves fortunate. Whilst the extra weight of the modifications had done nothing for the overall performance of the Cornell, the advantages of a modern monoplane with flaps, cockpit enclosure, heater, electrics and better instruments over a simpler biplane Tiger Moth, Finch or Stearman were appreciated.
Whilst the colour scheme and markings are always the owner's choice, it is safe to say no PT-26 ever operated in USAAF blue and yellow colours during WW.2. Only the prototype which spent much of it's career at Wright Field was operated by the USAAF and that in RAF trainer yellow and, possibly, later in silver.
I offer the suggestion that if your brother has not already done so to join the Fairchild Club where he will find a wealth of experience and advice. The Club's new website can be found at
http://www.fairchildclub.org/ and there is an active Fairchild Club forum on Yahoo Groups.
Hope this helps and fell free to PM me as I would like to hear more about this particular Cornell.
Happy New Year, Tony Broadhurst
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