One of the 'unsung' aircraft types of any military are the trainers. It is one thing to have cutting edge combat planes, but those planes need pilots and all pilots have to start somewhere. That somewhere involves a trainer.

Training aircraft have to be such that a rookie pilot can learn the basics without killing himself. It helps if they are strong and relatively easy to fly, but not so easy that they fly themselves. They should be able to allow the new pilot to make a few mistakes that will not result in the end of his life.

These sorts of aircraft were not around in the beginning as one learned on whatever was available. However, as planes got more and more complex, it was determined that dedicated trainers were needed. This book covers the aircraft of the US military, but it would be the same in any major air arm.

Initial training types were quite similar to the active combat aircraft, just of lower power. Most of us know of the JN-4 'Jenny', but there were other types that were equally as successful and built in rather large numbers like the Consolidated PT-1 of the 1920s or the Stearman N2S of the 1940s.

As planes grew even faster and more complex, it evolved that several types of trainers were needed. Using WWII as an example we first have the primary trainer, such as the PT-13 for new pilot recruits, a basic trainer like the BT-13 to learn more skills and get used to greater speed and finally the advanced trainer like the AT-6 which would be the last step to a combat aircraft.

In addition to these types, there were obsolete types that were put into use to get the pilot used to the type and about mid-WWII, combat aircraft with the armament removed were used as transition types. This was mostly for bombers (like the TB-25 or TB-29) and while there were some fighter trainers like the TP-51 or TP-39, they were generally built in very small numbers. There were also trainers for bombardiers, navigators and gunners, most of which were at least twin engine types.

Once the jet age was well underway, there were two seat versions of single seat fighters that were developed by all nations. In the US, the two seat F-80 became the T-33 that was used for decades after the F-80 had been retired. Even the Century Series fighters all had two seat conversion trainers. This continues pretty much today as well. Through all this, basic and intermediate trainers were developed like the T-28, T-37 and T-38.

Of course, not every design made it into production and some of them never made it out of the mock-up stage. What this book does is give a short description of all the various trainers developed for the US military since the middle of WWI. There are stats on each type as well the excellent drawings of Lloyd Jones and at least one photograph of the plane in question. The book not only covers standard aircraft, but rotary winged craft as well as training gliders. In all it makes for a complete reference on the subject and is a book that every aircraft enthusiast should have on their shelves. I give it my highest recommendation.

March 2015

Review book courtesy of McFarland Publishing. Visit the link or call 1-800-253-2187 for your copy.

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