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                          Photo Album (6 photos) |
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Serial 542, RCAF 4725 Manufactured: 1940 One 125 hp Kinner B-5 five cylinder radial air-cooled engine Maximum speed: 113 mph Empty weight: 1,122 lbs. Loaded weight: 1,860 lbs. Span: 28' 0" Length: 21' 8" Height: 7' 9" Wing area: 194 sq. ft. The Canadian Museum of Flight's Finch was used at No.9 EFTS, St. Catherines, Ontario and No. 11 EFTS, Cap de Madeline, Quebec, where it suffered damage in no less than 4 minor accidents. After WWII this aircraft was operated in Mexico for years, then New Mexico, USA and finally re-imported into Canada by G. Barry Jackson, who restored it and donated it to the Canadian Museum of Flight in 1979. The Finch flies regularly at various functions and air shows. General Information The Fleet 16B Finch II is a progressive development of the original Consolidated Fleet primary trainer, manufacture of which was commenced in Canada by Fleet Aircraft in 1930. A total of 431 Finch trainers were built for the RCAF between 1939 and 1941. Essentially similar to the Fleet 10, the Fleet 16 first entered RCAF service with tandem open cockpits, but the severity of the Canadian winter necessitated the introduction of a sliding canopy at an early stage in the trainer's service career. The Finch was a mainstay of the RCAF prior to and during the early part of WWII, flying at the Elementary Flying Training Schools in parallel with the better known Tiger Moth. Both types were later replaced the the PT-26 Cornell. Photo: Dennis Cardy | |
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