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From: cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP (Jeff Williams)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Some Observations on Trainers
Message-ID: <814@ihnp4.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 10-Jul-85 11:13:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: ihnp4.814
Posted: Wed Jul 10 11:13:57 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 12-Jul-85 00:41:55 EDT
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 35

Last weekend I had the pleasure of flying several different training
airplanes from several different eras.  It is interesting to see just
how far aviation has progressed in the last 40 years.

Airplane 1:  Fairchild PT-19A 
This open cockpit trainer certainly is not a small airplane.  It tips
the scales at almost 2800 pounds fully loaded.  The Ranger engine is
200 horse power in the one that I was flying.  Cruise speed is about
105 mph.  There is little conversation between the cockpits without
a "gosport" speaking tube installed.  (This airplane did not have one.)
In order to fly, you need a person to crank the starter while another
person builds up fuel pressure with the wobble-pump.  The PT-19 is a
fun airplane to fly, rather blind from the back seat, and is easy to
land.  Fuel consumption was around 10 gallons per hour, oil consumption
was about 1/2 gallon per hour.

Airplane 2:  North American SNJ-5
Talk about a strong airplane.  And a blast to fly.  Blind from the 
back seat, however.  Cruise was around 160 mph, when we were cruising.
Aerobatics were quite fun and very precise.  Inter-cockpit communication
was with an intercom.  No fuel or oil consumption figures available.
Takeoff and landing was interesting, to say the least.  The gear is
quite narrow, and the airplane wants to ground-loop with any cross
wind.

Airplane 3:  Cessna 152
Not as gutsy as the military trainers, but a much better training
airplane.  The instructor can see the student and can see to land the
airplane.  Not my first choice for impressing an airshow crowd, but my
first choice to teach in.

Just an observation...
				jeff williams
				AT&T Bell Laboratories
				ihnp4!cfiaime