'March 16, 1939...............
Some published accounts have stated the the prototype M-62 first flew in 1938 whereas others give the the date as May 1939. So far I have not found dated photographs or documents to support either of these dates, but as I post this message it almost exactly 70 years since the prototype NX18689 which led to the PT-19/23/26 series was first registered.
A couple of years ago I obtained from the Smithsonian archive copies of Richard Henson's 1937 to 1941 logbook. Henson was based at Hagerstown and seemed to have done most Fairchild's test flying during that period and so I hoped his log book would record the actual date.
The first entry relating to the M-62 NX18689 is on the 15 May, 1939 and someone has even added a note in the margin which states "5-15-39 First Flight M62". A closer look reveals this is unlikely to be the case. The first problem is the hours flown recorded against that entry: "25hrs 40 min" -- not on the same day, I think!
There is a second entry, on the next page, also dated 5-15-39 where Henson records he flew NX18689 3hrs 25 mins which appears to be a cross-country to Langley Field and back.
A closer look at the first May 15th entry suggests this is one of several round-ups of total test flying completed during the preceding 6 months, i.e., November 15th 1938 to May 15, 1939. For example he records a further 5hrs during the previous six months flying the Clark NC19131. So from some other document(s) Richard Henson added up his total time testing NX18689 during that period and added it to his own flight log, thereby keeping it up to date.
The next attempt to establish a date was from the surviving records of NX/NC18689 held by the FAA. These state Model T-9 (as it was then called) NX18689, serial T9-100 was manfactured March 1939 and the application for registration and accompanying inspection document are dated March 16, 1939. The details recorded include a cockpit enclosure and Ranger 6-410B2-A rated at 165 hp.
Judging from the FAA records of other early M-62s I think the application and issue of a registration to a new aircraft took place close to the date of the first flight. Of course, this may not be the case with the first prototype of a fundamentally new type.
Photographs exist of NX18689, engine running, with a canopy faired into a raised rear fuselage turtle deck, as had most contemporary monoplane fighters. It is presumed this was an early configuration or possibly just a mock-up and I have never seen, or heard of, photographs of NX18689 flying in this form. The earliest photograph with a reliable date was taken at Wright Field in July 1939 which shows a lowered turtle deck and a PT-26 style canopy. It may be the stated manufacturing date of March 1939 relates to the aircraft with a raised rear fuselage configuration, or to a rebuild to the standard seen at Wright Field - we know it went through several metamorphoses before it emerged PT-19-like.
Without a more definitive answer I conclude we should consider the Fairchild PT series is seventy-years old as of March 16, 2009 - Many Happy Returns!'
Re: 70 years and flying...
-
rangerrobertmn
- Posts: 66
- Joined: Sun Mar 14, 2004 6:00 pm
Re: 70 years and flying...
'Tony,
Thank you for your research and thanks for publishing it. You are a valuable asset to those of us that are interested in these airplanes. It is good to occasionally pause to admire the results of the efforts of the people that created these aircraft in such a short period of time, and now on March 16th we also have another reason to have a party.
Thanks again.
Bob Waldron
1939 Fairchild 24K
Sky Harbor Airpark Webster, MN U.S.A.
Thank you for your research and thanks for publishing it. You are a valuable asset to those of us that are interested in these airplanes. It is good to occasionally pause to admire the results of the efforts of the people that created these aircraft in such a short period of time, and now on March 16th we also have another reason to have a party.
Thanks again.
Bob Waldron
1939 Fairchild 24K
Sky Harbor Airpark Webster, MN U.S.A.
'--- In fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com, "tonyb42uk"
wrote:
>
> March 16, 1939...............
>
> Some published accounts have stated the the prototype M-62 first flew in 1938 whereas others give the the date as May 1939. So far I have not found dated photographs or documents to support either of these dates, but as I post this message it almost exactly 70 years since the prototype NX18689 which led to the PT-19/23/26 series was first registered.
>
> A couple of years ago I obtained from the Smithsonian archive copies of Richard Henson's 1937 to 1941 logbook. Henson was based at Hagerstown and seemed to have done most Fairchild's test flying during that period and so I hoped his log book would record the actual date.
>
> The first entry relating to the M-62 NX18689 is on the 15 May, 1939 and someone has even added a note in the margin which states "5-15-39 First Flight M62". A closer look reveals this is unlikely to be the case. The first problem is the hours flown recorded against that entry: "25hrs 40 min" -- not on the same day, I think!
>
> There is a second entry, on the next page, also dated 5-15-39 where Henson records he flew NX18689 3hrs 25 mins which appears to be a cross-country to Langley Field and back.
>
> A closer look at the first May 15th entry suggests this is one of several round-ups of total test flying completed during the preceding 6 months, i.e., November 15th 1938 to May 15, 1939. For example he records a further 5hrs during the previous six months flying the Clark NC19131. So from some other document(s) Richard Henson added up his total time testing NX18689 during that period and added it to his own flight log, thereby keeping it up to date.
>
> The next attempt to establish a date was from the surviving records of NX/NC18689 held by the FAA. These state Model T-9 (as it was then called) NX18689, serial T9-100 was manfactured March 1939 and the application for registration and accompanying inspection document are dated March 16, 1939. The details recorded include a cockpit enclosure and Ranger 6-410B2-A rated at 165 hp.
>
> Judging from the FAA records of other early M-62s I think the application and issue of a registration to a new aircraft took place close to the date of the first flight. Of course, this may not be the case with the first prototype of a fundamentally new type.
>
> Photographs exist of NX18689, engine running, with a canopy faired into a raised rear fuselage turtle deck, as had most contemporary monoplane fighters. It is presumed this was an early configuration or possibly just a mock-up and I have never seen, or heard of, photographs of NX18689 flying in this form. The earliest photograph with a reliable date was taken at Wright Field in July 1939 which shows a lowered turtle deck and a PT-26 style canopy. It may be the stated manufacturing date of March 1939 relates to the aircraft with a raised rear fuselage configuration, or to a rebuild to the standard seen at Wright Field - we know it went through several metamorphoses before it emerged PT-19-like.
>
> Without a more definitive answer I conclude we should consider the Fairchild PT series is seventy-years old as of March 16, 2009 - Many Happy Returns!
>
Re: 70 years and flying...
'Greeting Tony! I have some news for you. The Hagerstown Aviation Museum has
accepted PT N46199 to be added to their fleet
of flying Fairchild Aircraft. The Museum has two locations, Museum display
in Hagerstown, and a Hangar and office at the Airport.
The capable Gentlemen who is the Director is Kurtis Myers. I have taken the
liberty to forward your email and he can be contacted at
kurtism@hagerstownaviationmuseum.org.
_____
From: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of tonyb42uk
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 8:18 AM
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [fairchildclub] 70 years and flying...
March 16, 1939...............
Some published accounts have stated the the prototype M-62 first flew in
1938 whereas others give the the date as May 1939. So far I have not found
dated photographs or documents to support either of these dates, but as I
post this message it almost exactly 70 years since the prototype NX18689
which led to the PT-19/23/26 series was first registered.
A couple of years ago I obtained from the Smithsonian archive copies of
Richard Henson's 1937 to 1941 logbook. Henson was based at Hagerstown and
seemed to have done most Fairchild's test flying during that period and so I
hoped his log book would record the actual date.
The first entry relating to the M-62 NX18689 is on the 15 May, 1939 and
someone has even added a note in the margin which states "5-15-39 First
Flight M62". A closer look reveals this is unlikely to be the case. The
first problem is the hours flown recorded against that entry: "25hrs 40 min"
-- not on the same day, I think!
There is a second entry, on the next page, also dated 5-15-39 where Henson
records he flew NX18689 3hrs 25 mins which appears to be a cross-country to
Langley Field and back.
A closer look at the first May 15th entry suggests this is one of several
round-ups of total test flying completed during the preceding 6 months,
i.e., November 15th 1938 to May 15, 1939. For example he records a further
5hrs during the previous six months flying the Clark NC19131. So from some
other document(s) Richard Henson added up his total time testing NX18689
during that period and added it to his own flight log, thereby keeping it up
to date.
The next attempt to establish a date was from the surviving records of
NX/NC18689 held by the FAA. These state Model T-9 (as it was then called)
NX18689, serial T9-100 was manfactured March 1939 and the application for
registration and accompanying inspection document are dated March 16, 1939.
The details recorded include a cockpit enclosure and Ranger 6-410B2-A rated
at 165 hp.
Judging from the FAA records of other early M-62s I think the application
and issue of a registration to a new aircraft took place close to the date
of the first flight. Of course, this may not be the case with the first
prototype of a fundamentally new type.
Photographs exist of NX18689, engine running, with a canopy faired into a
raised rear fuselage turtle deck, as had most contemporary monoplane
fighters. It is presumed this was an early configuration or possibly just a
mock-up and I have never seen, or heard of, photographs of NX18689 flying in
this form. The earliest photograph with a reliable date was taken at Wright
Field in July 1939 which shows a lowered turtle deck and a PT-26 style
canopy. It may be the stated manufacturing date of March 1939 relates to the
aircraft with a raised rear fuselage configuration, or to a rebuild to the
standard seen at Wright Field - we know it went through several
metamorphoses before it emerged PT-19-like.
Without a more definitive answer I conclude we should consider the Fairchild
PT series is seventy-years old as of March 16, 2009 - Many Happy Returns!
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.235 / Virus Database: 270.11.13/2001 - Release Date: 03/14/09
06:54:00
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]'
accepted PT N46199 to be added to their fleet
of flying Fairchild Aircraft. The Museum has two locations, Museum display
in Hagerstown, and a Hangar and office at the Airport.
The capable Gentlemen who is the Director is Kurtis Myers. I have taken the
liberty to forward your email and he can be contacted at
kurtism@hagerstownaviationmuseum.org.
_____
From: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com [mailto:fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of tonyb42uk
Sent: Sunday, March 15, 2009 8:18 AM
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [fairchildclub] 70 years and flying...
March 16, 1939...............
Some published accounts have stated the the prototype M-62 first flew in
1938 whereas others give the the date as May 1939. So far I have not found
dated photographs or documents to support either of these dates, but as I
post this message it almost exactly 70 years since the prototype NX18689
which led to the PT-19/23/26 series was first registered.
A couple of years ago I obtained from the Smithsonian archive copies of
Richard Henson's 1937 to 1941 logbook. Henson was based at Hagerstown and
seemed to have done most Fairchild's test flying during that period and so I
hoped his log book would record the actual date.
The first entry relating to the M-62 NX18689 is on the 15 May, 1939 and
someone has even added a note in the margin which states "5-15-39 First
Flight M62". A closer look reveals this is unlikely to be the case. The
first problem is the hours flown recorded against that entry: "25hrs 40 min"
-- not on the same day, I think!
There is a second entry, on the next page, also dated 5-15-39 where Henson
records he flew NX18689 3hrs 25 mins which appears to be a cross-country to
Langley Field and back.
A closer look at the first May 15th entry suggests this is one of several
round-ups of total test flying completed during the preceding 6 months,
i.e., November 15th 1938 to May 15, 1939. For example he records a further
5hrs during the previous six months flying the Clark NC19131. So from some
other document(s) Richard Henson added up his total time testing NX18689
during that period and added it to his own flight log, thereby keeping it up
to date.
The next attempt to establish a date was from the surviving records of
NX/NC18689 held by the FAA. These state Model T-9 (as it was then called)
NX18689, serial T9-100 was manfactured March 1939 and the application for
registration and accompanying inspection document are dated March 16, 1939.
The details recorded include a cockpit enclosure and Ranger 6-410B2-A rated
at 165 hp.
Judging from the FAA records of other early M-62s I think the application
and issue of a registration to a new aircraft took place close to the date
of the first flight. Of course, this may not be the case with the first
prototype of a fundamentally new type.
Photographs exist of NX18689, engine running, with a canopy faired into a
raised rear fuselage turtle deck, as had most contemporary monoplane
fighters. It is presumed this was an early configuration or possibly just a
mock-up and I have never seen, or heard of, photographs of NX18689 flying in
this form. The earliest photograph with a reliable date was taken at Wright
Field in July 1939 which shows a lowered turtle deck and a PT-26 style
canopy. It may be the stated manufacturing date of March 1939 relates to the
aircraft with a raised rear fuselage configuration, or to a rebuild to the
standard seen at Wright Field - we know it went through several
metamorphoses before it emerged PT-19-like.
Without a more definitive answer I conclude we should consider the Fairchild
PT series is seventy-years old as of March 16, 2009 - Many Happy Returns!
No virus found in this incoming message.
Checked by AVG - www.avg.com
Version: 8.0.235 / Virus Database: 270.11.13/2001 - Release Date: 03/14/09
06:54:00
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]'
-
Bill Johnson
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 11:01 am
Re: 70 years and flying...
'Tony,
Thanks for the information, That's some excellent research.
Happy Birthday, Fairchild PT!
Bill Johnson
PT-19A, N38992
Sweetwater, TX
________________________________
From: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com on behalf of tonyb42uk
Sent: Sun 3/15/2009 7:18 AM
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [fairchildclub] 70 years and flying...
March 16, 1939...............
Some published accounts have stated the the prototype M-62 first flew in 1938 whereas others give the the date as May 1939. So far I have not found dated photographs or documents to support either of these dates, but as I post this message it almost exactly 70 years since the prototype NX18689 which led to the PT-19/23/26 series was first registered.
A couple of years ago I obtained from the Smithsonian archive copies of Richard Henson's 1937 to 1941 logbook. Henson was based at Hagerstown and seemed to have done most Fairchild's test flying during that period and so I hoped his log book would record the actual date.
The first entry relating to the M-62 NX18689 is on the 15 May, 1939 and someone has even added a note in the margin which states "5-15-39 First Flight M62". A closer look reveals this is unlikely to be the case. The first problem is the hours flown recorded against that entry: "25hrs 40 min" -- not on the same day, I think!
There is a second entry, on the next page, also dated 5-15-39 where Henson records he flew NX18689 3hrs 25 mins which appears to be a cross-country to Langley Field and back.
A closer look at the first May 15th entry suggests this is one of several round-ups of total test flying completed during the preceding 6 months, i.e., November 15th 1938 to May 15, 1939. For example he records a further 5hrs during the previous six months flying the Clark NC19131. So from some other document(s) Richard Henson added up his total time testing NX18689 during that period and added it to his own flight log, thereby keeping it up to date.
The next attempt to establish a date was from the surviving records of NX/NC18689 held by the FAA. These state Model T-9 (as it was then called) NX18689, serial T9-100 was manfactured March 1939 and the application for registration and accompanying inspection document are dated March 16, 1939. The details recorded include a cockpit enclosure and Ranger 6-410B2-A rated at 165 hp.
Judging from the FAA records of other early M-62s I think the application and issue of a registration to a new aircraft took place close to the date of the first flight. Of course, this may not be the case with the first prototype of a fundamentally new type.
Photographs exist of NX18689, engine running, with a canopy faired into a raised rear fuselage turtle deck, as had most contemporary monoplane fighters. It is presumed this was an early configuration or possibly just a mock-up and I have never seen, or heard of, photographs of NX18689 flying in this form. The earliest photograph with a reliable date was taken at Wright Field in July 1939 which shows a lowered turtle deck and a PT-26 style canopy. It may be the stated manufacturing date of March 1939 relates to the aircraft with a raised rear fuselage configuration, or to a rebuild to the standard seen at Wright Field - we know it went through several metamorphoses before it emerged PT-19-like.
Without a more definitive answer I conclude we should consider the Fairchild PT series is seventy-years old as of March 16, 2009 - Many Happy Returns!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]'
Thanks for the information, That's some excellent research.
Happy Birthday, Fairchild PT!
Bill Johnson
PT-19A, N38992
Sweetwater, TX
________________________________
From: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com on behalf of tonyb42uk
Sent: Sun 3/15/2009 7:18 AM
To: fairchildclub@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [fairchildclub] 70 years and flying...
March 16, 1939...............
Some published accounts have stated the the prototype M-62 first flew in 1938 whereas others give the the date as May 1939. So far I have not found dated photographs or documents to support either of these dates, but as I post this message it almost exactly 70 years since the prototype NX18689 which led to the PT-19/23/26 series was first registered.
A couple of years ago I obtained from the Smithsonian archive copies of Richard Henson's 1937 to 1941 logbook. Henson was based at Hagerstown and seemed to have done most Fairchild's test flying during that period and so I hoped his log book would record the actual date.
The first entry relating to the M-62 NX18689 is on the 15 May, 1939 and someone has even added a note in the margin which states "5-15-39 First Flight M62". A closer look reveals this is unlikely to be the case. The first problem is the hours flown recorded against that entry: "25hrs 40 min" -- not on the same day, I think!
There is a second entry, on the next page, also dated 5-15-39 where Henson records he flew NX18689 3hrs 25 mins which appears to be a cross-country to Langley Field and back.
A closer look at the first May 15th entry suggests this is one of several round-ups of total test flying completed during the preceding 6 months, i.e., November 15th 1938 to May 15, 1939. For example he records a further 5hrs during the previous six months flying the Clark NC19131. So from some other document(s) Richard Henson added up his total time testing NX18689 during that period and added it to his own flight log, thereby keeping it up to date.
The next attempt to establish a date was from the surviving records of NX/NC18689 held by the FAA. These state Model T-9 (as it was then called) NX18689, serial T9-100 was manfactured March 1939 and the application for registration and accompanying inspection document are dated March 16, 1939. The details recorded include a cockpit enclosure and Ranger 6-410B2-A rated at 165 hp.
Judging from the FAA records of other early M-62s I think the application and issue of a registration to a new aircraft took place close to the date of the first flight. Of course, this may not be the case with the first prototype of a fundamentally new type.
Photographs exist of NX18689, engine running, with a canopy faired into a raised rear fuselage turtle deck, as had most contemporary monoplane fighters. It is presumed this was an early configuration or possibly just a mock-up and I have never seen, or heard of, photographs of NX18689 flying in this form. The earliest photograph with a reliable date was taken at Wright Field in July 1939 which shows a lowered turtle deck and a PT-26 style canopy. It may be the stated manufacturing date of March 1939 relates to the aircraft with a raised rear fuselage configuration, or to a rebuild to the standard seen at Wright Field - we know it went through several metamorphoses before it emerged PT-19-like.
Without a more definitive answer I conclude we should consider the Fairchild PT series is seventy-years old as of March 16, 2009 - Many Happy Returns!
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]'