** In Maintenance **

Designed in 1934 to meet a US Army specification for a new training airplane, the PT-13 Kaydet was the iconic American training aircraft of World War II.  Around 10,000 Stearmans were manufactured for service with the US Army, US Navy (as the N2S), Canada, The Philippines, and many Central American countries.  Post-war Stearmans became the airplane of choice for cropdusters and airshow performers.  Our PT-13A was accepted by the US Army in 1940 and served throughout the war.  Entering the civilian register in 1946, it was graciously donated to the CAF in 2009 by Tom Hall. 

** IN RESTORATION **

The PT-19 design began in 1939 as a primary trainer, the first step in the process of training military pilots for the USAAF.  The PT-19 is a low, cantilevered, single wing aircraft with a similar wing loading and flight characteristics of the advanced trainers and fighters of the day, like the P-40 Warhawk.  The PT-19 was used to replace/supplement the older Boeing PT-13 and 17 Stearman.  A pilot would progress from these primary trainers to a basic trainer, the Vultee BT-13, and then to either a North American AT-6 for fighter training or to a Beech AT-9, 10, or 11 multi-engine trainer for transport and bomber training.  Ours is a nearly original 1943 PT-19A Cornell, powered by a 200HP Ranger L-440, inline inverted six cylinder engine.