About Us

In 1938, while most military pilots were still receiving their initial training in biplanes, Fairchild Aircraft recognized the need for a new design more closely approximating the more advanced types of aircraft the trainees would soon be flying. The result was the development of one of the most innovative and effective primary training planes ever designed, the Fairchild Primary Trainer ("PT"). The Fairchild PT was given its factory model number M-62 and its official name, the Cornell. The first prototype flew on May 15, 1939 and later that year won a fly-off competition against 17 other designs for the new Army training airplane. Fairchild was awarded its first Army PT contract for an initial order of 270 airplanes on September 22, 1939.

When Japan bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941 demand for military pilots skyrocketed making it necessary for Fairchild Aircraft (FA) to look for subcontractors to assist in meeting the demand for its PTs. Soon, four North American subcontractors were signed up; one Canadian company, Fleet Aircraft (F) and three U.S. companies, Howard Aircraft (HO), St. Louis Aircraft (SL) and Aeronca (AE) as well as Fabrica do Galeao (FG) in Brazil.

Three basic variations of the Fairchild PT were produced, the PT-19, PT-23 and PT-26. All three versions used the same basic airframe. The first and most common, the PT-19, is an open cockpit design and features Fairchild's Ranger engine with its six inverted inline cylinders. The PT-26 is the Canadian version of the PT-19 and features a sliding canopy and cockpit heating system for protection against the Canadian winters along with a few other differentiating features.

Between 1940 and the end of production it is believed that 7,443 airplanes were produced, the breakdown between models being 4,527 PT-19's, 1,790 PT-26's and 1,126 PT-23's. The total number produced over the life of the design is believed to be in excess of 8,130 airplanes. By 1944, more World War II pilots had received their first introduction to military flight in Fairchild PT's than in any other aircraft. This number includes not only US and Canadian students but pilots from Great Britain, France, Norway, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Rhodesian and India.

The history of the Pride of Corsicana is as follows: (Thanks to Tony Broadhurst for the early military history)

• Manufactured in 1942 and received by the USAAF Nov 1, 1942. Cost $6141.00.

• November 11, 1942 -- Assigned to the 67th Army Air Force Flying Training Detachment,

Eastern Flying Training Command. Based at Riddle-McKay Institute Embry-Riddle Field, Union City, TN. Operator: Riddle-McKay Company of Tennessee (affiliate of the Embry-Riddle Co.) The school opened in early 1942.

• At some unknown point was transferred to Chickasha, OK and assigned to 2549 AAF Base Unit (previously the 316th Army Air Force Flying Training Detachment), Central Flying Training Command

• November 1944 -- transferred from Chickasha, OK to the Wilson-Bonfils Flying School, Chickasha, OK. Operators: Raymond M. Wilson and F.W. Bonfils. Opened October 4, 1941. The school appears to have remained active into July 1945.

• November 22, 1944 -- transferred to the Reconstruction Finance Corp for storage and surplus

• March 27, 1945 -- assigned to the RFC sales center at Ponca City, OK.

• April 16, 1945 -- Defense Plant Corporation sold to Hugh Bowman (Belt, Montana) for

$875.00

• April 16, 1945 -- Registered to Hugh Bowman

• May 22, 1945 -- Civil Aeronautics Administration issued Certificate of Ownership to

Hugh Bowman

• Jul 28, 1945 -- Original Airworthiness Certificate Issued

• Aug 20, 1977 -- Hugh Bowman sold to Leonard Bonker of Albia, Iowa

• Feb 11, 1978 -- Registered to Leonard Bonker

• Mar 15, 1980 -- Leonard Bonker sold to Boulder Aviation of Boulder, CO

• April 2, 1980 -- Registered to Boulder Aviation Inc

• April 4, 1987 -- Boulder Aviation Inc sold to Colvin A/C Inc of Big Cabin, OK

• Sept 24, 1987 -- Colvin A/C Inc sold to Robert Chamberlain of Berkeley, MO

• Oct 19, 1987 -- Registered to RW Chamberlain

• Dec 21 1994 -- Airworthiness Certificate Issued

• Jan 15, 2000 -- Estate of Robert W Chamberlain sold to Ben Acock of Corsicana, TX

• Apr 24, 2000 -- Registered to Ben Acock

• Feb 10, 2001 -- Ben Acock sold to Navarro County Heritage Aircraft Association of

Corsicana, TX

• Mar 28, 2001 -- Registered to Navarro County Heritage Aircraft Association

• Apr 27, 2002 -- Navarro County Heritage Aircraft Association transferred ownership to

Corsicana Field Aviation Heritage Foundation of Corsicana, TX

• Jul 19, 2002 -- Registered to Corsicana Field Aviation Heritage Foundation

• Jun 6, 2005 -- Corsicana Field Aviation Heritage Foundation transferred ownership to

American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum (Commemorative Air Force) of Midland,

TX

• Jul 25, 2005 -- Registered to American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum

The T-34A and B were propeller-driven, piston-

engined, military trainer aircraft derived from the

Beechcraft Model 35 Bonanza. The T-34B Mentor

was the primary trainer for the US Navy

beginning in 1955 and continued until the mid

1970's at the Naval Air Station Saufley Field in

Florida and as a Navy Recruiting Command

aircraft until the early 1990s when the last

examples were retired as an economy move. The

T-34B's were

eventually succeeded by

the

upgraded T-34C Turbo-Mentor, powered by

a

turboprop engine.

Production of the T-34B for the United States

Navy (USN) began in 1955, this version featuring

several changes

reflecting

the

different

requirements of the two services. The T-34B had

only differential braking for steering control on

the ground instead of nosewheel steering,

additional wing dihedral and, to cater for the

different heights of pilots, adjustable rudder

pedals instead of the moveable seats of the T-

34A. T-34A production was completed in 1956,

with T-34Bs being built until October 1957.

Bureau number 140802 was delivered to US

Navy inventory in January of 1956. It served as

a trainer at NAS Saufley Field in Pensacola, FL

After it's retirement it was sent to the Dominican

Republic Air Force. At some point in its life with

the Dominican Republic, it suffered a gear up

landing and repairs were made to bring it back to

service. In 2001, it was sold to a private owner

along with several others. It was used to

demonstrate air combat maneuvers to the public.

Because of some excess G forces placed on this

and several other aircraft, it was required to

complete a mandatory structural enhancement of

the wing center section. At this point it was

donated to the Commemorative Air Force. The

repairs were completed by Baker Aviation in New

Smyrna Beach, FL. After completion, the aircraft

was flown to Fort Worth in January of 2016. In

January of 2017 the aircraft was completely

painted in the official training squadron paint

scheme. The Coyote Squadron assumed control

of the aircraft December 01, 2018.