Fairchild PT-26a Cornell
- 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, Saskatoon, SK
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.
