Fleetwings BT-12

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BT-12
Type Military basic trainer
National origin United States
Manufacturer Fleetwings
Primary user United States Army Air Force
Number built 25

The Fleetwings Model 23 was a 1940s all-metal basic training monoplane built by Fleetwings for the United States Army Air Force as the BT-12.

Contents

[edit] Development

After the United States entered the Second World War the United States Army Air Force was ill-prepared for a major war. In an effort to obtain as many aircraft as possible the USAAF contracted a specialist fabricator of sheet stainless steel to produce a basic training monoplane. A prototype Model 23 was ordered as the XBT-12. The XBT-12 was an all-metal low-wing cantilever monoplane with a fixed tailwheel landing gear and powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985 engine. The aircraft had two identical tandem cockpits for instructor and pupil covered by a continuous canopy.

After evaluation of the XBT-12 an order for 200 production aircraft, designated BT-12 was placed. Only 24 aircraft were delivered between 1942 and 1943 when the contract was cancelled.

[edit] Variants

Model 23
Company designation
XBT-12
Army designation for the prototype Model 23, one built.
BT-12
Army designation for the production Model 23, 24 built, 176 cancelled.

[edit] Operators

Flag of the United States United States
United States Army Air Force

[edit] Specifications (BT-12)

Data from The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing

General characteristics

  • Crew: Two
  • Length: 29 ft 2 in (8.89 m)
  • Wingspan: 40 ft 0 in (12.19 m)
  • Height: 8 ft 8 in (2.64 m)
  • Wing area: 240.40 ft² (22.33 m²)
  • Empty weight: 3173 lb (1439 kg)
  • Gross weight: 4410 lb (2000 kg)
  • Powerplant: One × Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 Wasp Junior 9-cylinder radial piston engine, 450 hp (336 kW) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 195 mph (314 km/h)
  • Range: 550 miles (885 km)
  • Service ceiling: 23,800 ft (7255 m)

[edit] See also

Related lists

[edit] References

  • John Andrade, U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0 904597 22 9 (Page 61)
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing

[edit] External links

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USAAC/USAAF/USAF trainer aircraft
Advanced Trainer

AT-1  • AT-2 • AT-3 • AT-4 • AT-5 • AT-6 • AT-7 • AT-8 • AT-9 • AT-10 • AT-11 • AT-12  • XAT-13  • XAT-14  • XAT-15  • AT-16  • AT-17  • AT-18  • AT-19  • AT-20  • AT-21  • AT-22 • AT-23  • AT-24
Basic Combat

BC-1 • BC-2 • BC-3
Basic Trainer

BT-1 • BT-2 • YBT-3  • XBT-4  • YBT-5 • BT-6 • Y1BT-7  • BT-8  • BT-9  • Y1BT-10 • BT-11  • BT-12  • BT-13  • BT-14 • BT-15  • XBT-16 • XBT-17
Trainer (1948-1990)

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