| Aircraft | |
|---|---|
| Registration / Serial: | 39-719 |
| Aircraft Original Type: | Fleetwings BT-12 Sophomore |
| Aircraft Generic Type: | Fleetwings BT-12 Sophomore |
| Aircraft Version: | Fleetwings XBT-12 Sophomore |
| C/n (msn): | [ 39-719 ] |
| Operator Titles: | USA - Air Force |
| Location | |
|---|---|
| Location: | In Flight |
| Region / Country: | Ohio, United States |
| Photo Date: | April 1941 |
| Photo from: | William Engle Collection (via Tim Martin) |
| Photo ID: | 681278 |
| Photo Comment |
|---|
|
The Fleetwings Model 23 was a two-seat basic trainer designated BT-12 by the military. It was powered by a P&W R-985 engine of 450 hp and utilized much stainless steel for construction. This prototype was flown from the Fleetwings plant at Bristol/PA to Wright Field, Dayton/OH on 12 January 1941, with acceptance tests commencing on 21 April 1941. In this photo it is up on an acceptance flight with Fleetwings chief project test pilot William H. Engle in the front and Doug Mason in the rear seat. On 21 February 1944 it was tagged as CL-26 (Ground maintenance trainer) and last known of at the Walter Soplata Collection, Newbury, OH. Collection holder William Engle is the son of Fleetwings test pilot William H. Engle. This photo was added on 27 April 2024, and has since been viewed 345 times. |