Got to fly a piece of history

[OkieFlyer]

I had an opportunity to go up in a Fairchild PT-19 yesterday. While not as prestigious or exciting as many other old planes, it was a wonderful experience. It was the first time I've ever flown in an open cockpit aircraft, which is freakin' awesome, and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Unfortunately, I didn't get to takeoff or land, but the pilot let me have the controls for a while in flight. For those that don't know, the PT-19 was a primary trainer for the Army during WWII. Cool stuff.

Pardon the wind noise

 

[BillTIZ]

Interesting that he likes to land left of center.

 

[SkyDog58]

Left?

 

[mscard88]

Interesting that he likes to land left of center.

Well it was to the right actually, and most likely for visibility off the port side of the plane while landing and taxing. A lot of tailwheel planes are hard to see over the nose, so one looks out on one side or the other side.

 

[yakdriver]

I always land right of the centerline. In a blind airplane like the N3N I fly it makes keeping it straight very easy. It also works great in something like a Cessna also. Don

 

[BillTIZ]

Well it was to the right actually, and most likely for visibility off the port side of the plane while landing and taxing. A lot of tailwheel planes are hard to see over the nose, so one looks out on one side or the other side.

Your right, he was right side because the line was in his left.
I just use the runway edge instead of the line.
I learned tailwheel on a wide grass runway, the side markers were very far apart, side to side and down each side.

 

[jbDC9]

I had an opportunity to go up in a Fairchild PT-19 yesterday. While not as prestigious or exciting as many other old planes, it was a wonderful experience.

Yes indeed. So I'm a pretty high time PT-19 driver with a whopping 8 hours in one , but I agree, the PT is a great old airplane to fly. Nice handling in flight, easy ground handling and just stupid easy to land. It has long stroke spring/oil oleo struts that just soak up the landing... it's like touching down on a big old soft couch. For a taildragger the forward visibility is really good since it's an inline Ranger 6 banger up front, not a radial that blocks the view. The one I fly is a CAF ship; I haven't flown it in awhile... but now I want to take it around the patch for a bit! We just gotta get the wing bolted back on, no biggie...

 

[LDJones]

Every plane I fly is a piece of history! Some much older than others!

 

[somorris]

Sounds like a great time!

 

[yakdriver]

Glad you got to experience open cockpit in the PT-19. Hope it will make another convert to flying these great old airplanes. I have given hundreds of open cockpit rides over the last 40 years and every one of them got out with a big grin on their face. Don

 

[OkieFlyer]

The one I fly is a CAF ship;

This one is CAF ship also. Based in OKC.

Every plane I fly is a piece of history! Some much older than others!

Well, I reckon that's true of all of us, but you know what I mean Heck my own bird is 52 years old.

Glad you got to experience open cockpit in the PT-19. Hope it will make another convert to flying these great old airplanes. I have given hundreds of open cockpit rides over the last 40 years and every one of them got out with a big grin on their face. Don

Heck yeah, loved it! I've got to have a family hauler, but when I win the lottery, and/or figure out some way to be a financial success, I'll be looking for an open cockpit bird to boot.