PT-19 Restoration

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Sat Feb 14, 2009 11:41

As I was getting cabin fever (and need to look at some airplanes) last Thursday I drove over to Uvalde, Texas where they had a museum. I was there several years ago and there was a PT19 being restored but looked like it had a long way to go at the time. Now he's getting close to done, on the gear, engine is installed, controls, etc. It is a beautiful job......painted blue and white. Has a inverted Ranger engine. I thought it built by the Aeronca factory but he said it actually was built by Fairchild. Wish I would have thought to bring the camera

.

Anyway, he told me that he bought it in 1987 (found it in a old shed) and has been working on it ever since. So that's like 22 years. You always get the question "When are you going to finish this thing? I usually tell them that finishing is not a big deal to me. I just enjoy the restoration process finishing is secondary and just means I need to find something else to do.

Mike Berg

Richard · Post by **Richard** » Fri Feb 20, 2009 21:36

In the 70's, my Dad purchased 7 PT-19's and PT 26's. He was able use parts from many of them to get one PT 26 flying.
Nice flying a/c. One pilot told they were dangerous to fly. But I decided that the military wouldn't waste their time with an a/c that would kill their students.
I learned how to do loops and rolls after reading the army air corp training manual for the plane.
I remember one of the planes had a Aeronca tag. I didn't realize until reading the Aeronca history book, that they had manufactured Fairchilds.

shorty · Post by **shorty** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 16:29

After WWII Dad and Grandpa, bought about 50 Stearmans, and a PT-19,
in Vernon Tx. They sold all the Stearmans, but kept the PT-19 for a while.
Dad courted Mom in the PT-19, as he didn't have a car at the time.
(i wonder if it might be the same one)

MikeB · Post by **MikeB** » Sat Feb 21, 2009 20:11

I believe he said it came from the upper pan handle area of Texas........N50480.

Mike B.