MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
A rare one. I guess they only made one. Nice looking ship, though.
Fleetwings BT-12
- Thread starter MIflyer
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Warbird Information Exchange • View topic - Fleetwings XBT-12 "Sophomore"
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- #5
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
You have to wonder why anyone would propose a new trainer at that point in the war. We had the PT-17, the BT-13 and the T-6.
But it is "the first military airplane built principally of stainless steel." That's the reason, right there. They were trying to save aluminum. Tank radios that were built of aluminum before the war were switched to SS. Parts of T-6's as well as drop tanks built by Lockheed were built of SS. Ryan came up with a trainer, the PT-25, made out of wood.
But it is "the first military airplane built principally of stainless steel." That's the reason, right there. They were trying to save aluminum. Tank radios that were built of aluminum before the war were switched to SS. Parts of T-6's as well as drop tanks built by Lockheed were built of SS. Ryan came up with a trainer, the PT-25, made out of wood.
GreenKnight121
Senior Airman
- 598
- Mar 16, 2014
The canopy looks a lot like that of the P-35... at first I thought this was a "second-source" downrated version of the AT-12 variant of the base Republic SEV-1/SEV-2 type.
On Wikipedia it sounds like they made 24.
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- #9
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
Well, they used to make a batch of prototypes for evaluation. They even did that with the Boeing L-15. So I guess that is entirely possible.
Geoffrey Sinclair
Staff Sergeant
- 779
- Sep 30, 2021
1 XBT-12 officially accepted in May 1941, serial 39-719 contract AC-12728 dated 21 June 1939
24 BT-12, first accepted in December 1942 then the remainder May to September 1943, serials 42-3684 to 3707. Contract AC-20857 dated 8 October 1941, originally for 200 aircraft (42-3684 to 3883).
2 XL-15 officially accepted in April 1948, serials 46-520 and 521 contract AC-15054 dated 21 November 1947.
10 YL-15 accepted December 1948 to March 1949, serials 47-423 to 432. Contract PR-19645 dated 1 December 1948, originally for 57 aircraft (47-423 to 479)
24 BT-12, first accepted in December 1942 then the remainder May to September 1943, serials 42-3684 to 3707. Contract AC-20857 dated 8 October 1941, originally for 200 aircraft (42-3684 to 3883).
2 XL-15 officially accepted in April 1948, serials 46-520 and 521 contract AC-15054 dated 21 November 1947.
10 YL-15 accepted December 1948 to March 1949, serials 47-423 to 432. Contract PR-19645 dated 1 December 1948, originally for 57 aircraft (47-423 to 479)
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- #11
MIflyer
1st Lieutenant
All the L-15's were eventually sent to Alaska.
Over 20 years ago I bought a brand new unused aircraft brake assembly at Sun and Fun. I had hoped that it would work on my Ercoupe, since the brakes was of similar design. I eventually concluded the brakes would not work on my airplane and eventually sold them to an outfit in Minnesota that was going to restore an L-15. Last year I discovered that that L-15 has been sent to American Aero at New Smyrna Beach, FL, about 60 miles from my house, for restoration. I told them where the brakes came from.
Over 20 years ago I bought a brand new unused aircraft brake assembly at Sun and Fun. I had hoped that it would work on my Ercoupe, since the brakes was of similar design. I eventually concluded the brakes would not work on my airplane and eventually sold them to an outfit in Minnesota that was going to restore an L-15. Last year I discovered that that L-15 has been sent to American Aero at New Smyrna Beach, FL, about 60 miles from my house, for restoration. I told them where the brakes came from.
Soplata collection for sale
https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=59111
Evidently Walter had the prototype. Shouldn't there be an award for rescuing rare airplanes named after him?
https://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=59111
Evidently Walter had the prototype. Shouldn't there be an award for rescuing rare airplanes named after him?
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