 |
|
|
Fairchild PT-19 Primary Flight Trainer Aircraft in World War 2
One
More Mission
A Journey from Childhood to War Page 10
The Fairchild PT-19 Aircraft series was developed from the Fairchild M-62 when the USAAF first ordered the aircraft, just before World War 2 in 1940, as part of its training expansion program. The low-wing monoplane with fixed landing gear design was based on a two-place, tandem seating, open cockpit arrangement. The simple but rugged construction included a fabric-covered welded steel tube fuselage with plywood-covered wood center section, outer wing panels and tail assembly. The use of an inline engine allowed for a very narrow frontal area which was ideal for visibility while the widely set-apart fixed landing gear allowed for solid and stable ground handling.
The Fairchild PT-19 provided a more advanced type of training aircraft. Its speeds were higher, its wing loading was more like combat aircraft with the flight characteristics demanding more precision and care. The PT-19 it was inexpensive, simple to maintain and most of all it was very reliable, the PT-19 truly lived up to its nickname - the "Cradle of Heroes." It was one of a handful of primary trainer designs that were the first stop on a cadet's way to becoming a combat pilot. Thousands of the PT-19 series were rapidly integrated into the US and Commonwealth training programs, serving throughout World War 2 and beyond.
Airplane Calendars * Airplane Art * Rail Art * Railroad Calendars
Go
back to the Stores Front Door | Fly to the next
page in this exhibit
