The Fleet Model 1 (originally the Consolidated Model 14 Husky Junior) and its derivatives are a family of two-seat trainer and sports biplanes produced in the

United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...

and

Canada Canada is a country in North America. Its Provinces and territories of Canada, ten provinces and three territories extend from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean and northward into the Arctic Ocean, making it the world's List of coun ...

in the 1920s and 1930s. They all shared the same basic design and varied mainly in their

powerplant Propulsion is the generation of force by any combination of pushing or pulling to modify the translational motion of an object, which is typically a rigid body (or an articulated rigid body) but may also concern a fluid. The term is derived from ...

Development

The Fleet Model 1 and its derivatives were all orthodox

biplane A biplane is a fixed-wing aircraft with two main wings stacked one above the other. The first powered, controlled aeroplane to fly, the Wright Flyer, used a biplane wing arrangement, as did many aircraft in the early years of aviation. While ...

s with staggered, single-bay wings of equal span and fixed tailskid undercarriage. Accommodation was provided for two in tandem, originally sharing a single open cockpit, but in most examples in separate open cockpits. The fuselage was made of welded steel tube with triangular-layout

Warren truss In structural engineering, a Warren truss or equilateral truss is a type of truss employing a weight-saving design based upon Triangle, equilateral triangles. It is named after the British engineer James Warren (engineer), James Warren, who pat ...

construction pattern side structures typical of the time, and the wings had a wooden spar with duralumin ribs, the entire aircraft being fabric-covered. Despite a superficial resemblance to Consolidated's highly successful Trusty and

Husky Husky is a general term for a type of dog used in the polar regions, primarily and specifically for work as sled dogs. It refers to a traditional northern type, notable for its cold-weather tolerance and overall hardiness. Modern racing huskies ...

designs (hence the "Husky Junior" nickname), the Model 14 was an all-new design. Originally created as a means for Consolidated to enter the civil market, the company abandoned this ambition shortly before the completion of the first prototype. The manufacturing rights were purchased by designer and Consolidated company president Reuben Fleet to put into production under his new enterprise,

Fleet Aircraft Fleet Aircraft was a Canadian manufacturer of aircraft from 1928 to 1957. In 1928, the board of Consolidated Aircraft The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1923 in aviation, 1923 by Reuben H. Fleet in Buffalo, New York, the res ...

. It was an immediate success, and in the first year of production alone, over 300 machines were sold. Consolidated quickly responded by buying Fleet Aircraft and retaining it as a subsidiary while opening a second production line at

Fort Erie, Ontario Fort Erie is a town in the Regional Municipality of Niagara, Niagara Region of Ontario, Canada. The town is located at the south eastern corner of the region, on the Niagara River, directly across the Canada–United States border from Buffal ...

, Canada. The Canadian manufacturing was a great success, with some 600 examples built for the

Royal Canadian Air Force The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; ) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environmental commands within the unified Can ...

as the

Fleet Fawn In the 1930s, Fleet Aircraft manufactured a series of single-engined, two-seat training aircraft, based on US designs. The Fleet Model 7B and Model 7C, known respectively as Fawn I and Fawn II were purchased by the RCAF as primary trainers. Afte ...

(Model 7) and

Fleet Finch The Fleet Finch (Fleet Model 16) is a two-seat, tandem training biplane produced by Fleet Aircraft of Fort Erie, Ontario. There were a number of variants mainly based on engine variations. Over several years beginning in 1939, a total of 447 ...

(Model 16). A small number of U.S.-built machines were purchased by the U.S. military, including a batch evaluated by the

United States Army Air Corps The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical ri ...

as the PT-16 but not bought in quantity. One initial prototype aircraft and six subsequent specialized production N2Y trainers were purchased by the

United States Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

. These N2Y-1 aircraft were equipped with hooks to catch the trapeze on two

U.S. Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest displacement, at 4.5 million tons in 2021. It has the world's largest aircraft ...

airships, the ''

USS Akron USS ''Akron'' (ZRS-4) was a helium-filled rigid airship of the U.S. Navy, the lead ship of her class, which operated between September 1931 and April 1933. She was the world's first purpose-built flying aircraft carrier, carrying F9C Sparr ...

'' and the '' USS Macon.'' The N2Y-1

parasite aircraft A parasite aircraft is a component of a composite aircraft which is carried aloft and air launched by a larger carrier aircraft or mother ship to support the primary mission of the carrier. The carrier craft may or may not be able to later recove ...

were used to train pilots that would subsequently fly the longer distance single-seat F9C Sparrowhawks reconnaissance aircraft. The two-seater N2Y-1 also acted as service aircraft, flying passengers to the inroute airships. On July 6, 1930, future air racer and movie stunt pilot

Paul Mantz Albert Paul Mantz (August 2, 1903 – July 8, 1965) was an American air racing and movie stunt pilot and consultant from the late 1930s until his death in the mid-1960s. He gained fame on two stages: Hollywood and in air races. Early years Ma ...

flew a Fleet Model 2 biplane through 46 consecutive outside loops, an international record which stood for almost 50 years. United States manufacturing rights were eventually sold to

Brewster Aeronautical Corporation The Brewster Aeronautical Corporation was an American defense contractor that was founded in 1932, with a focus on naval aircraft. Fraught with fraud, mismanagement and inefficient production, the United States Navy eventually stepped in to take ...

, which intended to produce the Brewster B-1 based on the Canadian Model 16F.

Variants

* Consolidated Model 14 Husky Junior - prototypes (ca. five built) * Fleet Model 1 - initial production version with

Warner Scarab The Warner Scarab is an American seven-cylinder radial engine, radial aircraft engine, that was manufactured by the Warner Aircraft Corporation of Detroit, Michigan in 1928 through to the early 1940s. In military service the engine was designate ...

engine. Approximately 90 built, including one for US Navy for evaluation as XN2Y-1.Wegg 1990, pp. 56, 58. * Fleet 1 Special - One aircraft modified as testbed for

Menasco Pirate The Menasco Pirate series are four-cylinder, air-cooled, in-line, inverted aero-engines, built by the Menasco Motors Company of Burbank, California, for use in light general and sport aircraft during the 1930s and 1940s. The Menasco engines c ...

B-4.Wegg 1990, p. 56. * Fleet Model 2 - initial production version with

Kinner K-5 The Kinner K-5 was a popular engine for light general and sport aircraft developed by Winfield B. 'Bert' Kinner. With the boom in civilian aviation after Charles Lindbergh's transatlantic flight the K-5 sold well. The K-5 was a rough running but ...

engine. 203 built in US for civil market, with 13 built in US for Argentina and limited production in Canada. ** PT-6 - USAAC designation for Model 2 (16 built) ** N2Y-1 - USN version with trapeze hook for airship docking training (six built). One converted to floatplane as XN2Y-2 and then converted to

autogyro An autogyro (from Greek and , "self-turning"), gyroscope, gyrocopter or gyroplane, is a class of rotorcraft that uses an unpowered rotor in free autorotation to develop lift. A gyroplane "means a rotorcraft whose rotors are not engine-d ...

as XOZ-1. * Fleet Model 3 - based on Fleet 1 with Wright J-6 engine. Two built.Wegg 1990, pp. 56–57. * Fleet Model 4 - version with

Curtiss Challenger The Curtiss R-600 Challenger was a six-cylinder, double-row, air-cooled, radial engine for aircraft use built in the United States in the late 1920s. It developed . Design and development Curtiss started work on a small six-cylinder engine in M ...

engine. One built.Wegg 1990, p. 57. * Fleet Model 5 - version with Brownback C-400 engine. One built. * Fleet Model 5 - Designation reused for Kinner K-5 powered version of Fleet 10. Six built in US for China. Built in Canada as Fleet 10A. * Fleet Model 6 - Testbed for Continental A-7 radial engine. * Fleet Model 7 - version with

Kinner B-5 The Kinner B-5 was a popular five cylinder American radial engine for light general and sport aircraft of the 1930s. Design and development The B-5 was a development of the earlier K-5 with slightly greater power and dimensions. The main change ...

engine (48 built, plus several converted from Model 2 by Fleet in Canada) ** Fleet Model 7A ** Fleet Model 7B - Canadian production version ** Fleet Model 7C - Canadian production version with

Armstrong Siddeley Civet The Armstrong Siddeley Genet Major is a British five-cylinder (later seven-cylinder), air-cooled, radial engine for aircraft, designed and built by Armstrong Siddeley and first run in 1928. It developed 140 horsepower (104 kW). In Royal A ...

engine ** Fleet Model 7G - Canadian production version with

de Havilland Gipsy The de Havilland Gipsy is a British air-cooled four-cylinder in-line aircraft engine designed by Frank Halford in 1927 to replace the ADC Cirrus in the de Havilland DH.60 Moth light biplane. Initially developed as an upright 5 litre ( ...

III engine ** XPT-6 - One Model 7 acquired by the US Army Air Corps for service tests. Version with 100-hp Kinner R-370-1 (Kinner K5) engine ** YPT-6 - ten aircraft similar to the XPT-6, used by the US Army Air Corps for service tests and evaluation ** YPT-6A - modified version of the Model 7 fitted with an enlarged cockpit. Used by the US Army Air Corps for service tests and evaluation * Fleet Model 8 - three-seat version similar to Model 7 (seven built) * Fleet Model 9 - refined version of Model 8 (12 built) * Fleet Model 10 - refined version of Model 7 for export to Europe, replaced the 1928-origin "looped" portside main landing gear radius rod of the Models 2 & 7; with a center-hinged design for both mainwheels, using a V-form transverse

cabane strut In aeronautics, bracing comprises additional structural members which stiffen the functional airframe to give it rigidity and strength under load. Bracing may be applied both internally and externally, and may take the form of struts, which act in ...

to provide the hinge-point. ** Fleet Model 10A - version with 100 hp Kinner engine ** Fleet Model 10B - version with 125 hp Kinner engine ** Fleet Model 10D - version with 160 hp Kinner engine ** Fleet Model 10-32D - generally similar to the Model 10D, but with an increased 4-ft 0-in (1.22-m) wingspan ** Fleet Model 10E - version with 125 hp Warner engine ** Fleet Model 10F - version with 145 hp Warner engine ** Fleet Model 10G - version with de Havilland Gypsy Major engine for governments of Portugal and Romania; 415 built in

Romania Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central Europe, Central, Eastern Europe, Eastern and Southeast Europe. It borders Ukraine to the north and east, Hungary to the west, Serbia to the southwest, Bulgaria to the south, Moldova to ...

: 40 by IAR, 80 by

SET Set, The Set, SET or SETS may refer to: Science, technology, and mathematics Mathematics *Set (mathematics), a collection of elements *Category of sets, the category whose objects and morphisms are sets and total functions, respectively Electro ...

and 285 by ICAR. ** Fleet Model 10H - version with Menasco C-4S engine * Fleet Model 11 - version with

Kinner R-5 The Kinner R-5 is an American five cylinder radial engine for light general and sport aircraft of the 1930s. Design and development The R-5 was a development of the earlier Kinner B-5, with slightly greater power and dimensions. The main chang ...

engine; some exported to Argentina, China and Mexico * Fleet Model 14 - Model 2 modified for participation in Guggenheim Safe Aircraft Competition but disqualified. * Fleet Model 16 -

- strengthened Canadian production version with sliding canopy, powered by a 130 hp de Havilland Gipsy Major engine (ca. 600 built) ** Fleet Model 16B - Fleet Finch Mk II - Strengthened Canadian production version, powered by a Kinner B5 engine ** Fleet Model 16D - similar to the Model 16B, but fitted with a Kinner B5 engine ** Fleet Model 16F - prototype for Brewster B-1 ** Fleet Model 16R - Fleet Finch Mk I - designation of the Fleet 16D built in Canada for the RCAF * Fleet Model 21 - armed version built in Canada for

Mexican Air Force The Mexican Air Force (FAM; ) is the air service branch of the Mexican Armed Forces. It is a component of the Mexican Army and as such overseen by the National Defense Secretariat (SEDENA). The objective of the FAM is to defend the integrity, in ...

(11 built) ** Fleet Model 21M - designation for a one-off demonstration aircraft ** Fleet Model 21K - redesignation of the Model 21M, after it was subsequently sold to a private buyer ** CATA 150 - Argentinian glider tug modification with

Lycoming O-320 The Lycoming O-320 is a large family of naturally aspirated, air-cooled, flat four engine, horizontally-opposed four-cylinder, direct-drive engines produced by Lycoming Engines. Introduced in 1953, it is commonly used on light aircraft such a ...

engine. First example flew 5 June 1971. At least two converted.

Operators

; *

Argentine Naval Aviation The Argentine Naval Aviation (', COAN) is the naval aviation branch of the Argentine Navy and one of its four operational commands. Argentina, along with Brazilian Navy, Brazil is one of two South American countries to have operated two aircraft c ...

- 10 Model 11 (1931 - 1940) ; *

; *

Chinese Nationalist Air Force Chinese may refer to: * Something related to China * Chinese people, people identified with China, through nationality, citizenship, and/or ethnicity **Han Chinese, East Asian ethnic group native to China. **''Zhonghua minzu'', the supra-ethnic ...

- Fleet Model 11 ; *

; *

Royal Romanian Air Force The Air Force branch of the Royal Romanian forces in World War II was officially named the (ARR, ), though it is more commonly referred to in English histories as the (Royal Romanian Air Force, FARR), or simply (Romanian Air Force). It provided ...

; *

Turkish Air Force The Turkish Air Force () is the Air force, air and space force of the Turkish Armed Forces. It traces its origins to 1 June 1911 when it was founded as the Ottoman Aviation Squadrons, Aviation Squadrons by the Ottoman Empire. It was composed ...

; *

Paraguayan Air Force The Paraguayan Air Force () is a branch of the Armed Forces of Paraguay, in charge of the defense of Paraguay's skies. Its interim commander is Air Division General Julio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes. Its headquarters are located in Ñu Guazu, Lu ...

- Military Aviation School - 5 Fleet Model 2 bought in 1931

Surviving aircraft

;Israel * 200 – Model 1 airworthy at Paradive Aviation Gallery at Habonim Airstrip. It is registered as 4X-AAF, was manufactured in 1929, and is powered with a Kinner B-5 radial engine. ;Paraguay * E-15 – Model 2 airworthy with the Yvytu Flight Club. A veteran of the

Chaco War The Chaco War (, National Military Museum in

Bucharest Bucharest ( , ; ) is the capital and largest city of Romania. The metropolis stands on the River Dâmbovița (river), Dâmbovița in south-eastern Romania. Its population is officially estimated at 1.76 million residents within a greater Buc ...

. Registered as 51, it was manufactured by Romanian company ICAR. ;United States * 181 – Model 2 on static display at the

Pima Air & Space Museum The Pima Air & Space Museum is an aerospace museum in Tucson, Arizona, US. It features a display of nearly 400 aircraft spread out over on a campus occupying . It has also been the home to the Arizona Aviation Hall of Fame since 1991. Overv ...

Tucson, Arizona Tucson (; ; ) is a city in Pima County, Arizona, United States, and its county seat. It is the second-most populous city in Arizona, behind Phoenix, Arizona, Phoenix, with a population of 542,630 in the 2020 United States census. The Tucson ...

. It is in the markings of Gilpen & Greenway Air Lines, Tucson, Arizona 1934. * 229 – Model 2 airworthy at the

Military Aviation Museum The Military Aviation Museum is located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, and houses one of the world's largest private collections of warbirds in flying condition. It includes examples from Germany, France, Italy, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the ...

Virginia Beach, Virginia Virginia Beach (colloquially VB) is the most populous city in the U.S. commonwealth of Virginia. The city is located on the Atlantic Ocean at the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay in southeastern Virginia. It is the sixth-most populous city in the ...

. It is registered as NC636M and is in the markings of United Air Services of Burbank, California. * 233 – Model 1 airworthy with David Trost of

Westchester, New York Westchester County is a county located in the southeastern portion of the U.S. state of New York, bordering the Long Island Sound and the Byram River to its east and the Hudson River on its west. The county is the seventh most populous coun ...

Specifications (Model 2)

References

Citations

Bibliography

Aerofiles.com
* * * * * *

External links

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