PT-19 Cornell

PT-19

PT-19


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1. - Development

Basic flight training in the United States prior to World War II was generally provided in light biplanes, which tended to be slow, stable and tolerant of fledgling pilots. Thus, the majority of U.S. Army Air Corps primary training in 1940 was still being done in biplanes like the Boeing-Stearman PT-13/17 series. However, given the increasingly high-performance nature of the world's combat aircraft, the Army reasoned that the primary training was too easy, giving the beginner a false sense of mastery that could, on the next leg up, slow down his learning, or even cause him to fail, when he was prematurely thrust into more demanding aircraft. Experienced instructors wanted the primary trainer to be a monoplane, with higher wing loading that demanded more careful flying. Such reasoning led the USAAC to evaluate the Fairchild M62 two-seat monoplane in 1939.

With a wing loading factor roughly 43 percent higher than the Boeing-Stearman PT-13, the Fairchild had a higher stalling speed and required a good deal more care at low speed, making it exactly what the Army was looking for, a trainer that would more nearly resemble the fighter aircraft the trainees would eventually fly. Following its evaluation, USAAC ordered 270 of the craft, with two open cockpits, as the PT-19 "Cornell," powered by a Ranger L-440 six-cylinder, inverted, air-cooled inline engine of 175 horsepower.

When the Army placed massive orders for primary trainers, Fairchild increased the plane's power with an upgraded, 200 hp Ranger engine, and the plane became the PT-19A. To meet the increasing demand, the PT-19A was also built by the Aeronca and St. Louis aircraft companies, with a total of more than 3,700 built.

More than 900 of a blind-flying version, the PT-19B, were also built. With its instruments for blind flying, the PT-19B could be fitted with a hood over the front cockpit to simulate blind flying conditions. Fairchild built 774 of the B models, with Aeronca building another 143.

When a shortage of Ranger engines developed, Fairchild installed a Continental R-670 radial engine of 220 hp on the PT-19 airframe, that variant being designated PT-23. While the less-streamlined engine cowling reduced the plane's performance slightly, for the training role the loss was not significant.

The final version of the PT-19 series, an enclosed-cockpit version designated the PT-26, was designed for the Royal Canadian Air Force in 1942 with a canopy over the two cockpits. 670 of the PT-26s were provided to the RCAF through Lend-Lease and, in a variation on the Lend-Lease theme, the U.S. Army Air Force ordered 1,057 PT-26s from the Canadian manufacturer, Fleet Aircraft, Ltd. All PT-26s were equipped with the 200 hp Ranger engine.

A total of 7,742 Cornells were manufactured for the AAF, 4,889 of them PT-19s, with additional Cornells being furnished to Canada, Norway, Brazil, Ecuador and Chile.

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2. - Serial #'s

PT-19 Cornell Serials


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3. - Operational History

Compared to the earlier biplane trainers, the Fairchild PT-19 provided a more advanced type of aircraft. Speeds were higher the wing loading more approximated combat aircraft with the flight characteristics demanding more precision and care. Its virtues were that it was inexpensive, simple to maintain and most of all, virtually "vice-less", 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 Comonwealth 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 US civil register. Around 100 still are flyable today.


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4. - Variants

PT-19
Initial production variant of the Model M62 powered by 175hp L-440-1, 270 built.

PT-19A
As the PT-19 but powered by a 200hp 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 220hp 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 the Commonwealth Air Training Scheme, 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.

Cornell I
RCAF designation for the PT-26.

Cornell II
RCAF designation for the PT-26A.

Cornell III
RCAF designation for the PT-26B.


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5. - Technical Specifications

Specifications (PT-26A):
Engine: One 200-hp Ranger L-440 six-cylinder inverted inline piston engine
Weight: Empty 2,022 lbs., Max Takeoff 2,736 lbs.
Wing Span: 36ft. 0in.
Length: 27ft. 8.5in.
Height: 7ft. 7.5in.

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Performance:

Maximum Speed: 122 mph
Ceiling: 13,200 ft.
Range: 400 miles


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Armament:


None


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6. - Operators



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7. - Survivors


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8. - Links


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9. - Markings


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10. - References

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