Fleetwings BT-12 Sophomore
Fleetwings · United States · first flew 1939 · light aircraft
The Fleetwings BT-12 Sophomore, also known by the company designation Model 23, was a 1940s all-metal basic training monoplane. It was built by Fleetwings for the United States Army Air Forces.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.89 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Low-wing all-metal monoplane
- Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior radial
- Two seats for pilot and instructor
Look for an all-metal low-wing basic trainer with a radial engine and two seats.
Specifications
- The Fleetwings BT-12 Sophomore has a length of 8.89 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.19 m (40 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 314 km/h (195 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The BT-12 first flew in 1939. It was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-1 Wasp Junior radial engine.
Variants
The type had the company designation Model 23.
Where you'll see it
Only 24 production examples were built before the contract was cancelled. The United States Army Air Forces was the primary user, and production ran from 1942 to 1943.
Related aircraft
- Fleetwings 33
- Fleetwings Sea Bird
- Aeronca Super Chief
- Akaflieg Berlin B8
- Ambrosini SAI.10 Grifone
- Arado Ar 199
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