View source for Fleet 60 Fort

{{Infobox aircraft
 |name=Fleet 60 Fort
 |image=Fort 1 580.jpg
 |caption=Fleet Fort c. 1943
 |type=[[Trainer (aircraft)|trainer]]
 |manufacturer= [[Fleet Aircraft]] of Canada
 |designer=
 |first_flight=22 March 1940<ref name="Holmes"/>
 |introduction=18 April 1941<ref name="Holmes">Holmes 2005, p. 161.</ref>
 |retired=1945
 |status=
 |primary_user=[[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
 |produced=1941- 1942
 |number_built=101
 |unit cost=
}}

The '''Fleet Model 60K Fort''' was the only [[aircraft]] designed and built by [[Canadians]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]]<ref name="Holmes"/> and was also the first all-metal [[monoplane]] built by [[Fleet Aircraft]] of Canada ([[Fort Erie, Ontario|Fort Erie]]). It was intended to be an [[Trainer (aircraft)|intermediate trainer]] employed for pilot training between the [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]] primary trainer and the [[North American Aviation|North American]] [[T-6 Texan|Harvard]] advanced trainer. Although it served with the [[British Commonwealth Air Training Plan]], the Fort was redundant and was used to train wireless (radio) operators and had a relatively short operational career.

==Design and development==
The Fort was originally designed as an advanced flying trainer and in 1940 orders were placed for 200 to be built for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan.<ref name="Holmes"/> The Fleet 60 was designed as a monoplane with a low elliptical wing and a raised rear [[cockpit]]. An unusual feature was the fixed [[Landing gear|undercarriage]]. Although fixed, the undercarriage was fitted with a retractable [[Aircraft fairing|fairing]]. This feature was intended to familiarize student pilots with an undercarriage retraction mechanism but without causing external damage by a forgetful student.

Production was delayed, however, as the first [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF) model was not flying until 18 April 1941. The availability of the [[Fairchild PT-19|Fairchild Cornell]], and a change in what constituted an "advanced" trainer, led to the contract's being sharply cut back, and only 101 Forts were ultimately delivered to the RCAF between June 1941 and June 1942.<ref name="Holmes"/>

==Operational history==
[[File:Fleet60KFortC-FORT.JPG|thumb|Fleet 60K Fort at the [[Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum]], Hamilton, Ontario]]
Initially, the RCAF did not want to order the Model 60K, and their concerns proved valid. Pilot trainees found the Fort relatively easy to master, thereby making it unsuitable for transition to combat aircraft (e.g., [[Hawker Hurricane]]). Also, the RCAF decided that pilots who had soloed in [[Fleet Finch]]es and [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]]s could proceed to Harvards without training on Forts. The Forts were then used to train wireless operators at No. 2 Wireless School, [[Calgary]] and No. 3 Wireless School, [[Winnipeg]].

Two models were built, one having a {{convert|250|hp|abbr=on|adj=on}} [[Jacobs Aircraft Engine Company|Jacobs]] [[Piston engine|engine]] and the other having a {{convert|330|hp|abbr=on}} Jacobs. The more powerful engine gave the revised Fort a top speed of {{convert|193|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}} and the cruising speed {{convert|163|mi/h|km/h|abbr=on}}. It then climbed at {{convert|1650|ft|m}} per minute and had a range of {{convert|610|mi|km}}. Loaded weight was slightly increased to {{convert|2,900|lb|kg}}.

The last Forts saw active service in 1944 and they were phased out of use by 1945; the last Model 60K was retired in 1946.

==Variants==
* '''Model 60''' : Proposed advanced trainer version, powered by a Jacobs L-7 [[Radial engine|radial piston engine]]. Not built.
* '''Model 60K''' : Two-seat intermediate training aircraft for the [[RCAF]]. RCAF designation '''Fort Mk I'''.
** '''Fort Mk II''' : All 101 production aircraft were converted into wireless training aircraft for the [[RCAF]]
* '''Model 60L''' : Proposed version, powered by a Jacobs L-4MB radial piston engine. Not built.

==Specifications==
{{3-view|Fleet Fort.jpg|Fleet Fort}}
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=''Jane's Vintage Aircraft Recognition Guide''<ref name="Holmes"/>
|prime units? = imp
|crew=2
|length m=8.18
|length ft=26
|length in=10.3
|span m=10.97
|span ft=36
|span in=0
|height m=2.51
|height ft=8
|height in=3
|wing area sqm=20.07
|wing area sqft=216
|empty weight kg=1,149
|empty weight lb=2,530
|gross weight kg=1,589
|gross weight lb=3,500
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Jacobs R-915|Jacobs L-6MB]]
|eng1 kw=246
|eng1 hp=330
|cruise speed kmh=217
|cruise speed mph=135
|ceiling m=4,572
|ceiling ft=15,000
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent|
|related=
|similar aircraft=
*[[Miles Master]]
*[[Miles Mentor]]
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
}}

==References==
{{commonscat}}
===Citations===
{{reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* Holmes, Tony. ''Jane's Vintage Aircraft Recognition Guide''. London: Harper Collins, 2005. {{ISBN|0-00-719292-4}}.
* Molson, Ken M. and Taylor, Harold A. ''Canadian Aircraft Since 1909''. Stittsville, Ontario: Canada's Wings, Inc., 1982. {{ISBN|0-920002-11-0}}.
* Page, Ron D. and Cumming, William. ''Fleet: The Flying Years''. Erin, Ontario: Boston Mills Press, 1990. {{ISBN|1-55046-019-6}}.
{{refend}}

{{Fleet Aircraft}}
{{Aircraft manufactured in Canada}}

[[Category:Fleet aircraft|Fort]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:1940s Canadian military trainer aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1940]]