Fleet Finch
Fleet Aircraft of Canada · Canada · first flew 1939 · light aircraft
The Fleet Finch (Fleet Model 16) is a two-seat tandem training biplane produced by Fleet Aircraft of Fort Erie, Ontario. It served as an elementary trainer in the Second World War.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Welded steel-tube fuselage with a Warren truss structure |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Two-seat tandem training biplane
- Welded steel-tube fuselage with a Warren truss structure
- Frise ailerons, a trimmable two-piece tailplane and a fixed vertical stabiliser
Look for an open-cockpit tandem biplane trainer with a radial engine. It was used at Canadian elementary flying schools alongside the Tiger Moth.
Specifications
- The Fleet Finch has a length of 6.6 m (22 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.53 m (28 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 167 km/h (104 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
It was a progressive development of the Fleet 10 trainer, with changes recommended by a 1938 Royal Canadian Air Force evaluation. 431 were built for the RCAF between 1939 and 1941.
Variants
The Finch I used a 160 hp Kinner R5-2 and the Finch II a 125 hp Kinner B-5. A prototype 16F had a 175 hp Warner Super Scarab.
Where you'll see it
Some 447 were built over several years, nearly all for British Commonwealth Air Training Plan schools. It flew alongside the Tiger Moth and was replaced by the Fairchild Cornell, with the last struck off in 1947.
Related aircraft
AircraftIQ — the aircraft field guide: 8,606 recognition guides, live overhead identification, works offline.