fairchild pt-19

Crew: 2, student & instructor
Length: 28 ft (8.53 m)
Wingspan: 36 ft (10.97 m)
Height: 10 ft 6 in (3.20 m)
Wing area: ft&sup2; ( m&sup2;)
Empty: lb ( kg)
Loaded: 2,545 lb (1,154 kg)
Powerplant: 1 x Ranger L-440-3 , 200 hp ( kW)

The Fairchild PT-19 was a monoplane primary trainer aircraft that served with the USAAC, RAF and RCAF during World War II. It was a contemporary of the Kaydet biplane trainer. The PT-19 series was developed from the Fairchild M-62 when the USAAC first ordered the aircraft in 1940 as part of its expansion programme. The original production batch of 275 were powered by the 175 hp Ranger L-440-1 engine and designated the PT-19. In 1941 mass production began and 3,181 of the PT-19A model, powered by the 200 hp L-440-3, were made by Fairchild. An additional 477 were built by Aeronca and 44 by the St Louis Aircraft Corporation. The PT-19B, of which 917 were built, was equipped for blind flying training by attaching a collapsible hood to the front cockpit. When a shortage of Ranger engines threatened production, the PT-23 model was introduced which was identical except for the 220 hp Continental R-670 powerplant. 869 PT-23s were built as well as 256 of the PT-23A, which was the blind flying-equipped version. The PT-23 was manufactured in the US by Fairchild, Aeronca, St Louis Aircraft Corporation and Howard Aircraft Corporation and in Canada by Fleet Aircraft Corporation. The final variant was the PT-26 which used the L-440-7 engine. The Canadian-built versions of these were designated the Cornell for use by the RAF Empire Air Training Scheme in Canada and Rhodesia. On September 5, 2004, a PT-26 experienced an engine failure on takeoff in Corsicana, Texas. The subsequent crash killed the pilot and his passenger.