Fairchild developed the PT-19 in 1938 to satisfy a military requirement for a rugged monoplane primary trainer, and it went into quantity production in 1940. In addition to those manufactured by Fairchild, the Aeronca, Howard and St. Louis Aircraft Corps. produced Cornells. Fleet Aircraft Ltd. produced them in Canada.
From the basic PT-19, Fairchild produced two more aircraft: the Continental radial engine powered PT-23 and the PT-26 with an enclosed cockpit. Altogether the U.S. Army Air Forces accepted 7,742 Cornells, of which 4,889 were PT-19s. Additional Cornells went to Canada, Norway, Brazil, Ecuador and Chile.
Mr. Howard Phillips of Seattle, Wash., donated the PT-19A on display at the museum in November 1984.
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Engine: Ranger L-440 of 175 hp
Maximum speed: 124 mph
Cruising speed: 106 mph
Range: 480 miles
Ceiling: 16,000 ft.
Span: 35 ft. 11 3/16 in.
Length: 27 ft. 8 3/8 in.
Height: 7 ft. 9 in.
Weight: 2,450 lbs. loaded
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