Information:
| Status: | On Display |
| Airworthiness: | Airworthy (flown regularly) |
| Type: | Trainer |
| Year: | 1942 |
| Serial Number: | FV 136 |
| Civil Registration: | Not specified |
| Current Markings: | FV 136 |
| Length: | 27 ft 8.5 in |
| Wingspan: | 36 ft 0 in |
| Power: | 200 hp |
| Engine: | 1 x Ranger L-440, 6-cylinder in-line |
| Maximum Speed: | 122 mph |
| Range: | 400 miles |
| Restoration: | Tom Coates – TC Aviation |
Aircraft Description
The Fairchild PT-26a Cornell is a single-engine basic training aircraft designed in the 1930s as a private venture. In 1939, the US Air Force procured this type as a training aircraft for transitioning trainees into monoplane aircraft.
Manufactured in 1942 under license by Fleet Aircraft in Fort Erie, Ontario, this aircraft, serial #FV136, was used extensively during World War II for pilot training. With accommodation for two pilots in tandem, the PT-26a Cornell features a length of 27 ft 8.5 in and a wingspan of 36 ft. Powered by a 200 hp Ranger L-440 engine, it can reach a maximum speed of 122 mph and has a range of 400 miles.
The first flight of the PT-26a Cornell type was on March 31, 1939. This aircraft has been restored to flying condition by Tom Coates of TC Aviation in Saskatoon, SK, ensuring its preservation as a significant piece of aviation history.
Visit the Saskatchewan Aviation Museum to explore the Fairchild PT-26a Cornell and learn more about its vital role in pilot training during World War II.
