Fairchild PT-19

The Fairchild PT-19 at a Glance

The Fairchild PT-19 was a low-wing monoplane trainer built for the U.S. Army in World War II. It was the first aircraft many cadets flew on their way to becoming combat pilots.

The Army wanted a trainer that handled more like a fighter than the open-cockpit biplanes it replaced. The PT-19 delivered that, with higher speeds and a wing loading closer to combat aircraft, according to the Wikipedia history.

The full specification table for the aircraft is on this page. The sections below explain where the aircraft came from and what its variants were.

Design and Development

The PT-19 grew out of the Fairchild M-62, designed under chief engineer Armand Thiebolt. The prototype first flew on 15 May 1939 and beat 17 other designs in a fly-off at Wright Field.

The Army ordered 270 aircraft on 22 September 1939.

The airframe was simple. A welded steel tube fuselage was covered in fabric, while the center section, tail and outer wing panels used plywood. Two crew sat in tandem in open cockpits, and the fixed landing gear kept ground handling forgiving.

The inline engine gave a narrow nose and good forward visibility. The wingspan is 36 ft 0 in (10.97 m) and the length is 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m),

PT-19 Variants: PT-19A, PT-19B, PT-23 and PT-26

The original PT-19 used a 175 hp Ranger L-440-1 inline engine. The PT-19A switched to the 200 hp Ranger L-440-3.

The PT-19B was the instrument-training version. It carried a collapsible hood over the front cockpit so a student could practice flying on instruments alone.

The PT-23 swapped the inline engine for a 220 hp Continental radial. The PT-23A was its instrument-training twin.

The PT-26 added an enclosed cockpit for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada. Canadian-built versions were called the Cornell.

How Many Were Built?

Over 7,000 PT-19, PT-23 and PT-26 aircraft were built, and Wikipedia’s infobox puts the family total above 7,700. Fairchild built most of the PT-19A models, with Aeronca and St. Louis Aircraft Corporation building the rest of that variant.

Sources do not agree on exact counts per variant. The figures for the PT-19B and PT-23 in particular differ between lists, so treat any single number with care.

PT-23s were also built by Howard, Fleet in Canada and Fabrica do Galeao in Brazil.

Where the PT-19 Flew

The Army Air Forces used the type for primary training. The Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Air Force flew the Cornell, including a Norwegian training base at RAF Winkleigh.

After the war, air forces in Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Uruguay and Venezuela were among the operators.

The wooden wings were a weakness in hot, humid climates. In 1943 plywood wings rotted in Texas and Florida, and the Army Air Forces later asked for all-metal wings on its trainers.

Surviving Fairchild PT-19s

As of 2011, 98 examples were airworthy worldwide, according to Wikipedia. Others sit in museums, including the Pima Air & Space Museum’s PT-19A.

A PT-19A flies with the Birmingham Escadrille of the Commemorative Air Force in Alabama, and a PT-26A flies in the Netherlands.

Frequently Asked Questions

What was the Fairchild PT-19 used for?

It was a primary trainer. It gave new cadets their first flying instruction before they moved on to more advanced aircraft.

What is the difference between the PT-19, PT-23 and PT-26?

The PT-19 has an inline Ranger engine, and the PT-23 has a Continental radial. The PT-26 is the enclosed-cockpit version built in Canada for cold-weather training.

What engine does the PT-19A use?

The PT-19A uses one 200 hp Ranger L-440-3 inline piston engine.

Was the Fairchild PT-19 the same as the Cornell?

Not exactly. Cornell was the name for the Canadian-built versions, such as the PT-26.

Can you still see a Fairchild PT-19 fly?

Yes. As of 2011, 98 were airworthy worldwide, and several fly with warbird groups and at airshows.