One of the most challenging aspects of owning a vintage aircraft is that they can be expensive to maintain—especially if it’s a former military aircraft, also known as a warbird. That’s why the Commemorative Air Force’s Rainier Squadron in Washington state has launched a fundraising campaign to help cover the cost of an engine overhaul for its 1944 Stinson AT-19 Reliant.
AT stands for “advanced trainer”. During the war they were used as navigational trainers and liaison aircraft.
The Rainier Squadron AT-19 is based at Arlington Municipal Airport (KAWO), some 45 miles north of Seattle. The round engine, high wing tailwheel with the fixed steps is a fan favorite at local airshows and fly-in events.
According to information from the Rainier Squadron, their AT-19 was one of approximately 500 AT-19s that were provided to the United Kingdom through the Lend-Lease program. The aircraft, designated FB605, was used by the U.K. Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm and today is painted in the livery of the British who flew it in the Southeast Asian theater.
The squadron estimates the engine overhaul project will cost about $70,000, and is endeavoring to raise $25,000 toward the first phase of the project with the intent to return the aircraft to flying status.
The AT-19 is powered by a nine cylinder Lycoming R-860. Designed for rugged operations, not for speed, the aircraft consumes 14-18 gallons of fuel per hour in cruise flight and 3-4 quarts of oil per hour — high oil consumption is common with most radial engines as is their tendency to drip oil when parked. Remember the adage “radial engines do not leak oil — they simply mark their territory”.
The History of the Rainier Squadron AT-19
The aircraft was built in Wayne, Michigan, by Consolidated-Vultee Aviation and delivered to the U.S. Army on May 15, 1944, carrying the serial number 43-44046. The aircraft was flown to New Jersey, where it was disassembled and crated to be shipped to what is now India for use by the Royal Navy.
After the war, the aircraft, as with most Lend-Lease equipment, was returned to the United States.
Eventually declared surplus by the War Assets Administration, the aircraft was demilitarized and made available for civilian purchase. The price of the surplus AT-19s ranged from $1000 to $2,500, depending on its condition, which equates to about $18,511 to approximately $46,253 today. It may sound inexpensive today, but keep in mind in 1945 you could get a three-bedroom house for $4,000 to $7,000.
After the war, Consolidated Vultee, the manufacturer of the aircraft, applied to the Civil Aeronautics Administration (the precursor to the Federal Aviation Administration) to obtain the civilian designation of V-77 for the aircraft formerly known as the AT-19.
One of the first challenges the new civilian owners of these formerly British surplus gullwing airplanes faced was redoing the throttle, propeller, and mixture controls. They were rigged backwards by American standards. In American airplanes, activating full power, full mixture, and full propeller is done by putting the knobs or levers full forward. In British aircraft, full power etc. was achieved by pulling the knobs or levers full aft.
Sporting the civilian tail number of N60634 and a civilian paint job, the aircraft passed through several owners. It was purchased in 1946 by three men in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1951 it was sold to a flying service and used to tow banners.
A long list of single private owners followed, each making a few upgrades and repairs to the aircraft, which included complete replacement of the fabric skin (a few times by different owners) and an installation of a combination navigation communication radio and wheel pants.
The CAF bought the aircraft in 1985, updating the avionics to conform to new safety rules and regulations.
The Rainier Squadron has been part of the flying community in Washington since 2017. All volunteers, the squadron provides aircraft displays and educational programs to help preserve aviation history.