60 M ODEL AVIATION
t seems as though we have more trainer-type aircraft
than almost any other. In the 1930s, a variety of biplanes were
used for training military and civil pilots. During the late
1930s, Fairchild Aircraft Division realized there was a need for a
low-wing monoplane trainer.
At that time, biplanes such as the Stearman PT-13-17 and
the British de Havilland D.H. Tiger Moth were the standard.
Trainers have evolved along with other aircraft during the last
65 years.
In the 1930s, the US Army Air Force (USAAF) had the
primary trainer (PT)—the basic beginner’s aircraft. Then the
student was transferred to the basic trainer (BT) series, which
included aircraft such as the Vultee BT-13. The last series a
student saw time in was the advanced trainer (AT) series,
including the AT-6.
The next stop was usually the combat aircraft or further
training for multiengine airplanes.
Our subject came into being in the late 1930s, as a military
and civil trainer.
Originally designed for an in-line engine, with wide-stance
landing gear and generous dihedral built into the wing, the PT-
19 was a significant departure from the normal biplane trainer
types. The wide main landing gear made the PT-19 a much
easier airplane to take off in and land—especially for
inexperienced students.
Fairchild chief engineer Armand Thiebolt developed a design
using conventional techniques and manufacturing processes. It
allowed the company to build an inexpensive airframe that was
easy and cheap to repair.
The PT-19 has a steel-tube frame, wooden spars and ribs, and
plywood covering. All the flying surfaces were covered with
A three-quarter view of the ED 64 PT-19 trainer, painted with Randolph dope. Note the model’s large wing fairings.
A different perspective of the PT-19. Several versions of this
aircraft have been manufactured, and all are similar.
Fairchild PT-19
n Stan Alexander
April 2001 61
plywood, then painted—with no fabric covering, as most of the
restorations have. The manufacturers never dreamed these tough
trainers would be flying 60 years after they were built.
The first M-62 (Fairchild’s label for the PT-19) model flew in
1938, powered by a 165-horsepower (hp) Ranger engine.
The M-62 had a turtledeck, which included a two-holer cockpit
and a glass canopy. The turtledeck was removed, which gave the
prototype a sloped outline behind the cockpit. The glass canopy
was removed, and wheel fairings were added. The fin and rudder
were modified to the outline, which followed the type through its
final production in 1944.
More than 100 PT-19A models were built for the civil market
before World War II broke out, and the US military and other
countries placed orders for the trainer.
The war was beginning in earnest in Europe, and Fairchild
won the contract from the USAAF against 16 other aircraft types.
The first production aircraft was designated PT-19.
Many people think the PT-19 was the first monoplane trainer
for the military, but that isn’t true. The first was the YPT-16—a
military version of the Ryan STA—but that’s another story.
The PT-19 was built in several versions, including the A model
with the 200 hp Ranger 6-440 C-5. Most models were similar, with
The PT-26 as delivered to Canada to serve as a Royal Canadian Air Force trainer.
From this view, you can see the dihedral built into the ED 64’s wing panels. This airplane has a generous amount of dihedral.
A view of the PT-19’s main landing gear
details and the brake lines. This is a
popular aircraft among modelers.
The inside of the front cockpit, which is for the pilot.
Photos by the author Graphic Design by Jill Ann Cavanaugh
the engine being the main difference. The A
was the second production model sold to the
USAAF; more than 3,700 airframes were
built by a variety of manufacturers. More
PT-19As were built than any other variation
of the aircraft.
The next model was the PT-23, which
was produced because of the lack of
available Ranger in-line engines. The first
Fairchild PT models to use radial engines
for power were delivered to foreign
countries; they lacked enough horsepower
by American standards, so Fairchild
installed the 220 hp Continental R-670.
The Royal Canadian Air Force needed
trainers at the same time. The climate in
Canada, even in the summer, dictated that
a closed canopy was needed for the far
North, and Fairchild obliged. The PT-26
was the same basic model as the A version
of the trainer, with a full greenhouse.
The aircraft in most of the photos is ED
64. I’ve photographed it several times at
the Oshkosh (WI) fly-in. I’m sure it’s in
better condition now than it was when it
left the factory in 1942.
This aircraft was delivered to the US
Army January 24, at a cost of $9,823. After
WW II ended, the trainers could be bought
as military surplus for only $750. Today the
trainers go for approximately $60,000. I
wish I could find one now for $750!
Many people don’t realize that civilians
trained many pilots during WW II; this is
one such story.
World War I pilot and reserve Army
officer Clarence Page had a farsighted
vision; he thought he could best use his
abilities to train pilots for the upcoming
war, in which he thought the United States
would eventually be involved.
Clarence met with General H.H. “Hap”
Arnold in Washington DC. Clarence convinced
the general that by training thousands of new
pilots to fly under contract to the Army, he
could make a greater contribution to the war
effort than a middle-aged officer stuck at some
base doing paperwork.
The general agreed and told Page to
locate a site, and Cimarron Field came into
focus as a training base. It was located just
west of Oklahoma City OK, on 240 acres of
former wheat fields. Operated by the
Oklahoma Air College under contract to the
Army, it was one of many training bases
across the country during this time.
Cimarron Field received its first 50 PT-
19s late in 1941, and another 50 in 1942—
including the one photographed.
The aircraft at Cimarron Field carried
the blue and yellow prewar training colors
throughout their service in the war. The
official USAAF training colors were
changed to silver after May 30, 1942. The
airplanes retained their prewar national
markings, with the red circle in the star,
throughout the life of the school.
The aircraft carried the “ED” along
with the line number (64) on the vertical
fin and upper wing surfaces. The “ED”
denoted a civilian-operated flight school
under contract with the Army.
ED 64 was sold as surplus in Helena,
Arkansas for $770.
The PT-19 has been a modelers’
favorite for decades. Can you remember
one of your first Control Line (CL)
models? It was probably a Cox PT-19.
Scale models? When you’re a kid, all that
matters is that it flies well! Thank
goodness for all the rubber bands!
Almost all kit manufacturers have had a
design of the PT-19 on their lists at one
time or another. Why?
Look at the wide-track main landing
gear and nice, long moments. The wing
has a great deal of dihedral and the
aircraft is almost impossible to stall if
the scale airfoil is used.
Color schemes are numerous, but usually
simple for a Scale model. There is more
surface detail than meets the eye at first glance,
and building a Sport Scale or museum-scale
model is possible without taking out a loan for
as much as a new car would be.
This trainer series was responsible for
serving as the cradle of pilots during WW II.
April 2001 63
64 M ODEL AVIATION
So enjoy your slow-flying trainer that will do
basic Scale Aerobatics as well as fly inverted!
Specifications:
Wingspan: 35 feet, 11 inches
Length: 27 feet, 8 inches
Height: 7 feet, 9 inches
Weight: 2,450 pounds
Engine: Ranger L-440
Performance:
Maximum speed: 123 mph
Cruising speed: 106 mph
Range: 480 miles
Ceiling: 16,000 feet
Sources:
Paul Matt Scale airplane drawings courtesy of
Aviation Heritage, Box 1445, Niceville FL
32588; Tel.: (800) 999-0141; Fax: (850) 729-
1111; E-mail: [email protected];
Web site: www.aviation-heritage.com. All
Paul Matt three-views and research service
are available from Aviation Heritage.
Books:
Fairchild Aircraft 1926-1987 by Kent A.
Mitchell, published by Jonathan
Thompson, 1997, Library of Congress 96-
62018, ISBN 0-913322-04-0. A photo
history of the manufacturer, from the FC-
1A to the T-46 jet trainer in the 1980s, this
book covers the operation and all models
by the Fairchild Company.
Pilot Training Manual for the Army
Models Fairchild PT-19, published by
Flying Books International, 1995, ISBN 0-
911139-22-2. This is a reprint of the
training manual.
Magazines:
Air Progress, October/November 1963,
page 52: three-views plus details.
Air Trails, Winter 1977, page 67: color.
Sport Aviation, February 1997, pages 90-
96: article “A Passion For The PT” by
Budd Davisson. Includes information on
three aircraft: PT-19, PT-23, PT-26 with
color photos.
Fly Past, November 1998, pages 40-42:
article “Out of the Barn.” Color photos of
PT-26 with canopy.
Photo Documentation:
Scale Plans & Photo Service, 3209
Madison Ave., Greensboro NC 27403;
Tel.: (336) 292-5239. More than 15 photo
packs available on the three types, threeviews,
1⁄5-scale plans.
Bob Banka’s Aircraft Documentation, 3114
Yukon Ave., Costa Mesa CA 92626; Tel.:
(714) 979-8058; Fax: (714) 979-7279, has
more than 17 Foto Paaks for the PT-19, PT-
23, and PT-26. Three-views are available.
Plans:
Cleveland Model & Supply Company, Box
55962, Indianapolis IN 46205; Tel.: (317)
257-7878; Fax: (317) 257-7877, has plans
for the PT-19 and PT-26 (seven) in sizes
from 1⁄24 to 1⁄4 scale with 108-inch span.
Scale Plans & Photo Service, 3209 Madison
Ave., Greensboro NC 27403; Tel.: (336)
292-5239, has plans for 1⁄6 scale with 721⁄2-
inch span, 1⁄5 scale with 87-inch span.
Kits:
Kyosho .40 size Almost Ready to Fly
(ARF) PT-19 with 61-inch wingspan.
Dynaflite PT-19 built-up kit with 89-inch
wingspan, 11-13 pounds, 1.20 FS power.
Horizon Hobbies, 4105 Fieldstone Rd.,
Champaign IL 61822, has Hangar 9 ARF
kit with 82-inch wingspan.
House of Balsa, 10101 Yucca Rd.,
Adelanto CA 92301, has PT-19 kit for
501⁄2-inch-span Sport Scale model.
I’m sure this isn’t all of them. MA
Stan Alexander
3709 Valley Ridge Dr.
Nashville TN 37211
[email protected]
