Fairchild PT-19
family of military training aircraft
The Fairchild PT-19 (company designation Fairchild M-62) is an American monoplane primary trainer aircraft that served with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), Royal Air Force, and Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. Designed by Fairchild Aircraft, it was a contemporary of the Kaydet biplane trainer and was used by the USAAF during primary flying training. As with other USAAF trainers of the period, the PT-19 had multiple designations based on the powerplant installed.
Design and development
According to H.L. Puckett, "Still, U.S. pilots were receiving their primary flight training in biplanes, although the low-wing advance trainer was in use. A look around showed that there was no low-wing primary trainer being produced in the U.S. Fairchild felt this urgency and set his organization at work on such a low-wing trainer with the proposal that the new proven Ranger be used as the power plant for the new airplane to be known as the M-62. The M-62, which was to become the PT-19, was to use the experience gained from the F-24 and the more recent Model 46."
In 1933, Fairchild Aircraft Corporation's chief engineer, A.A. Gassner, had hired Armand Thiebolt as his chief structural engineer. In 1937, Thiebolt was named chief engineer and given the task of designing the PT-19. Included in the design was the use of interchangeable parts and nonstrategic materials. According to Puckett, "The proposed low-wing design adapted itself readily to a wide-tread landing gear, which, when combined with judicious wheel location and a low center of gravity, provided protection against ground looping." The Ranger engine would also result in a narrower cowling compared to those using a radial engine, which meant increased visibility for the pilot. The reduced cowling also improved propeller efficiency and an increase in horsepower.
The cantilever wings, with wooden ribs, were covered by 3/32-inch preformed mahogany or fir plywood.
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