Aircraft Information
> Aircraft Make: Fairchild Aircraft. Model: PT-23. Nickname: Cornell
> Aircraft Mil Civ Description: Airplane SE Piston
> FAA Category and Class: Airplane Single Engine Land
> Engine Description: Single engine radial
Aircraft Experience
> As of: 7/20/2026
> Number of Hours Flown: 9
> Number of Times Flown: 12
> Other Aircraft Models Associated: PT-19, PT-26
First Flown Information
> Sequence First Flown: 194
> Date First Flown: 5/7/2024
> Location First Flown: Richland, WA (KRLD)
> Who and/or What Organization First Flown With: CAF Days Pay Squadron, George Abatt
(c) Bob Stoney
Recollections: The Commemorative Air Force (CAF) is an organization which strives to preserve history by owning and operating vintage warbirds. It’s a rewarding mission, but takes the determined work of scores of people. I was already a member of Seattle-based CAF Squadron (see my writeup on the AT-19) but–when the opportunity came to fly a PT-23 also–I joined a new squadron in Richland, WA (the “Days Pay Squadron”…the name referring to Richland citizens who each donated a whole day’s pay to buy a B-17 during WWII as part of the war effort).
(c) Bob Stoney
My “FAM 1” in the PT-23 was conducted with George Abatt on a day where the winds were blowing more strongly than I would’ve liked. We decided to try the flight, promising we’d knock it off if it got worse. Well, it did get worse but the good news was that the PT-23’s flying qualities are so solid in the landing pattern particularly, that it was very comfortable. We faced crosswinds as high as 10-15 knots and it was still comfortable. A testament to this design, which was a basic training for the US Army Air Corps in WWII.
As of this writing, I have tapered back my CAF involvement, owing to being over-subscribed on both personal and professional (consultant DER Test Pilot) fronts. During my time flying the Corneell, I’ve taken several folks for a ride (non-paying) and thoroughly enjoyed this open-cockpit piece of history.
(c) Bob Stoney
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