CAF Restores Classic PT-19A Trainer Used by Tuskegee Airmen

It takes a village to restore an airplane.

Monday, January 29, 2024 at 03:59 PM ET

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A World War II PT-19 Cornell trainer, initially used by the Tuskegee Airmen, takes off for its first flight after two years of complete restoration by CAF Airbase Georgia members. [Courtesy: Charles Burcher]

Key Takeaways:

A historic Fairchild PT-19A aircraft, used to train Tuskegee Airmen during World War II, returned to flight on January 18 at Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field after a two-year restoration.
The extensive restoration, undertaken by volunteers at CAF Airbase Georgia, involved a complete disassembly, replacement of components, and reskinning, amounting to an estimated 4,300 hours of work.
This airworthy PT-19A preserves a rare piece of aviation history, honoring the legacy of the Tuskegee Airmen, and is expected to be available for public rides later this year.

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A piece of history returned to the skies at Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field (KFFC) in Peachtree City, Georgia, on January 18 when a Fairchild PT-19A used by the Tuskegee Airmen took flight after a two-year restoration project.

This aircraft model once filled the skies as cadets trained for World War II. Today, they are exceedingly rare—especially the airworthy ones. The older an aircraft, the more attention must be paid to its care, and the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) recognizes this.