View source for Fleet Finch

{{Short description|Canadian training biplane}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox aircraft
  |name = Finch 
  |image = File:Fleet Finch.jpg
  |caption =Fleet Finch II at the [[Canadian Museum of Flight]] British Columbia
  |type = [[trainer (aircraft)|Trainer]]
  |manufacturer = [[Fleet Aircraft]]
  |designer= 
  |first_flight =8 February 1939
  |introduction =  1939
  |retired = 1947
  |status = Retired
  |primary_user =[[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
  |more_users = [[Portugal]]
  |produced = 1939– 1941<ref name="Holmes"/>
  |number_built =606<ref name="Holmes">Holmes 2005, p 78.</ref>
  |variants = 
}}
[[File:Fleet16BFinch.jpg|thumb|right|Fleet 16B Finch in the [[Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum]] Hamilton, Ontario – note centre-hinged main LG radius rods]]
[[File:FleetFinch07A.JPG|thumb|right|Fleet 16B Finch at the [[Canadian Museum of Flight]] in South Surrey BC, July 1988]]

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 Finches were built, nearly all (431) of them for use as elementary trainers in the [[British Commonwealth Air Training Plan]] (BCATP) during the [[World War II|Second World War]].

==Design and development==

The Fleet 16B Finch II was a progressive development of the original Consolidated Fleet primary trainer (Fleet 10), manufacture of which commenced in [[Canada]] by Fleet Aircraft in 1930. After a [[Royal Canadian Air Force]] (RCAF) evaluation in 1938 recommended a number of changes, a total of 431 Finch trainers were built for the RCAF between 1939 and 1941.<ref name="Holmes"/> The aircraft had conventional construction for the period with a welded steel-tube [[fuselage]] having Warren truss structure for its sides; and composite metal, wood and fabric design features, with [[Aileron#Frise ailerons|Frise ailerons]], a flat-bottom airfoiled, variable incidence (trimmable) lifting two-piece tailplane; and similarly "lifting airfoil" on the [[Vertical stabilizer#Stall of the vertical tail|fixed vertical stabilizer]], cambered into an airfoil on its port side only, to offset the [[P-factor]] of the propeller's swirling slipstream. The RCAF acquired the aircraft type as an elementary [[Trainer (aircraft)|trainer]]. The Fleet 16 first entered RCAF service with tandem open [[cockpit]]s, but the severity of the Canadian winter necessitated the introduction of a sliding [[Aircraft canopy|canopy]] at an early stage in the trainer's service career.  The earlier Model 10's centre-hinged main landing gear radius rods were retained for the Model 16 series, as these centre-hinged units had replaced the "looped" left mainwheel's radius rod design that had been on the even-earlier Fleet Models 1, 2 & 7 biplanes from their own origins in November 1928.{{Citation needed|date=July 2015}}

==Operational history==
[[File:Harrod Starts Fleet 4494.webm|thumb|Startup of a Fleet Finch]]

The Finch was a mainstay of the RCAF prior to and during the early part of the Second World War, flying at the Elementary Flying Training Schools (EFTS) in parallel with the better known [[de Havilland Tiger Moth]], also produced in Canada. The earlier Fleet Model 7 ([[Fleet Fawn]]) was also in use for primary training. During 1940, initial production problems were solved and timely deliveries were made to the RCAF, allowing the first training programs to start up. In the following year, the [[Portugal|Portuguese]] Navy purchased ten Model 16Ds (ordered as 10Bs but changed to the higher powered variant) and later a further five 16Ds were delivered in 1942.<ref name="Page and Cumming p. 72.">Page and Cumming 1990, p. 72.</ref>

A total of 606 Fleet Finches were produced as Model 16s, the majority for the RCAF. They were used as initial trainers in the BCATP at no fewer than 12 Elementary Flight Training Schools across Canada. Both the Fleet Finch and Tiger Moth were later replaced by the [[Fairchild Cornell|Fairchild PT-26 Cornell]]. The Finch was progressively phased out of service from October 1944 with the last of the Model 16s struck off strength from the RCAF inventory in 1947.

==Variants==

;Model 10
:Model was an improved Fleet 7 with a deeper rear fuselage from its nearly-level height dorsal turtledeck in side-view, a new two-piece horizontal tail/elevator and a better cockpit.
;Model 10A
:Model powered by {{cvt|100|hp}} [[Kinner K-5]] five-cylinder radial engine 
;Model 10B
:Model powered by {{cvt|125|hp}} [[Kinner B-5]], five cylinder [[radial engine]]
;Model 10D
:Model powered by {{cvt|160|hp}} [[Kinner R-5]], five cylinder radial engine
;Model 10-32D
:32-foot-long span wing for high altitude operations in Mexico. Powered by {{cvt|175|hp}} Kinner R5, five cylinder radial engine
;Model 10E
:Model powered by {{cvt|145|hp|abbr=on}} [[Warner Aircraft Corporation|Warner]] Super Scarab seven cylinder radial engine
;Model 10F
:Model powered by {{cvt|145|hp}} Warner Super Scarab seven cylinder radial engine
[[File:Fleet 10F upstate NY.jpg|thumb|Fleet 10F in upstate New York. Formerly owned by the Nicaraguan Air Force. ]]
;Model 10G 
:Model powered by {{cvt|90|hp}} [[de Havilland Gipsy|Wright-Gypsy]] or {{cvt|130|hp}} [[de Havilland Gipsy Major|Gypsy Major]] inline engine, built under license in [[Romania]] at [[Industria Aeronautică Română|IAR]], [[Societatea Pentru Exploatări Tehnice|SET]] & [[Întreprinderea de Construcţii Aeronautice Româneşti|ICAR]] factories, also used in Portugal.
;Model 10H
:Model {{cvt|150|hp}} supercharged [[Menasco Pirate|Menasco C-4S]] Inline
;Model 16F
:One prototype based on the Fleet '''Model 10'''; powered by a {{cvt|175|hp}} Warner Super Scarab seven cylinder radial engine
;Model 16R (Finch I)
:27 built for RCAF; powered by {{cvt|160|hp}} Kinner R5-2, five cylinder radial engine
;Model 16B (Finch II)
:404 built for the RCAF; powered by {{cvt|130|hp}} (variously noted as {{cvt|125|hp}}) Kinner B5-R, five cylinder radial engine
;Model 16D
:15 built for the Portuguese Navy; powered by {{cvt|160|hp}} Kinner B5-2, five cylinder radial engine

==Operators==
* {{flag|Canada|1921}}
** [[Royal Canadian Air Force]]
* {{POR}}
** Portuguese Navy
* {{ROM}}
** [[Royal Romanian Air Force]]
* {{ROC-TW}}
** Chinese Air Force

==Survivors==
;;Model 16
*registration CF-AAE, serial 243, at the [[Reynolds-Alberta Museum]] in [[Wetaskiwin, Alberta]] and painted as ''1001''.{{cn|date=March 2019}}

;;Model 16B
*registration N666J, serial 350, one of two Finches based at the [[Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome]] in [[New York State]] since at least 1970, with at least three different color schemes in its four decades-plus of flying in Old Rhinebeck's weekend airshows. Since suffering a crash landing in 2016, the aircraft is awaiting a rebuild.<ref>[http://oldrhinebeck.org/ORA/fleet-finch-16-b/ Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome's Fleet Finch page] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222165713/http://oldrhinebeck.org/ORA/fleet-finch-16-b/ |date=2014-02-22 }}, ''Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome,'', Retrieved: 21 December 2012.</ref>
*registration CF-GER, serial 399, at the [[Guelph Airport]] in [[Ontario]] and painted as ''4488''.<ref>[http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/ccarcs-riacc/ADet.aspx?id=24682&rfr=RchSimpRes.aspx?cn=%7c%7c&mn=%7c%7c&sn=%7c%7c&on=%7c%7c&m=%7cGER%7c Canadian Civil Aircraft Register], Retrieved: 22 September 2016</ref><ref>[http://www.tigerboys.com/finch.html Tiger Boys:CF-GER] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025115835/http://www.tigerboys.com/finch.html |date=25 October 2012 }}, Retrieved 22 September 2016</ref>
*registration ''unknown'', serial 542, at the [[Canadian Museum of Flight]] in [[British Columbia]] and painted as ''4725''.<ref>[http://www.canadianflight.org/collect/col_10.htm Canadian Museum of Flight:Fleet 16B Finch Mk II], Retrieved 22 September 2016</ref>
*registration ZK-AGC, serial 668, airworthy with a private owner at [[Omaka Aerodrome]] in [[New Zealand]]. For sale as of November 2020.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hangar247.net/listing/?id=3227|title=ZK-AGC / Fleet 16B Finch|website=Hangar247.net}}</ref>

;;Model 16R
*registration C-FDAF, serial 92319, at the [[Guelph Airport]] in Ontario and painted as ''4494''.<ref>[http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/ccarcs-riacc/ADet.aspx?id=30007&rfr=RchSimpRes.aspx?cn=%7c%7c&mn=%7c%7c&sn=%7c%7c&on=%7c%7c&m=%7cDAF%7c Canadian Civil Aircraft Register], Retrieved: 22 September 2016</ref>

==Aircraft on display==
;;Model 16B
*registration C-GQWE, serial 567, at the [[RCAF No.6 Dunnville Museum]] in Ontario and painted as ''4708''.<ref>[http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/ccarcs-riacc/ADet.aspx?id=3174&rfr=RchSimp.aspx Canadian Civil Aircraft Register], Retrieved: 22 September 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.rcafmuseum.org/site/spare2 RCAF No. 6 Dunnville Museum: C-GQWE], Retrieved 22 September 2016</ref>
*registration C-FFUI, serial 623, at the [[Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum]] in Ontario and painted as ''4738''.<ref>[http://wwwapps.tc.gc.ca/saf-sec-sur/2/ccarcs-riacc/ADet.aspx?id=25226&rfr=RchSimpRes.aspx?cn=%7c%7c&mn=%7c%7c&sn=%7c%7c&on=%7c%7c&m=%7cFUI%7c Canadian Civil Aircraft Register], Retrieved: 22 September 2016</ref>
*serial 408 registration CF-SUX, at the [[Canada Aviation and Space Museum]] in Ontario and painted as ''4510''.<ref>[http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/collection-research/artifact-fleet-16b-finch-ii.php Canadian Aviation and Space Museum:Fleet 16B Finch Mk II] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216174213/http://casmuseum.techno-science.ca/en/collection-research/artifact-fleet-16b-finch-ii.php |date=16 February 2017 }}, Retrieved 27 September 2016</ref>
* Model 10G No. 351 Built by ICAR -  Întreprinderea de Construcţii Aeronautice Româneşti , at the [[:ro:Muzeul Militar Na%C8%9Bional %E2%80%9ERegele Ferdinand I%E2%80%9D|Muzeului Militar Național „Regele Ferdinand I]]” in Bucharest, Romania and painted as ''51''.[https://historia.ro/sectiune/actualitate/legendarul-avion-pe-care-au-invatat-sa-zboare-toti-567614.html]

==Specifications (Finch II)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=
<ref name="Page and Cumming p. 72."/>
|prime units? = imp
|crew=2
|length ft=21|length in=8
|span ft=28|span in=0
|height ft=7|height in=9
|wing area sqft=194.4
|empty weight lb=1,222|gross weight lb=2,000

|eng1 number=1|eng1 name= Kinner B-5 five-cylinder radial [[piston engine]]|eng1 hp=125

|max speed mph=104
|cruise speed mph=85
|range miles=300
|ceiling ft=10,500
|climb rate ftmin=435
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|related=
* [[Fleet Model 1]]
* [[Fleet Fawn]]

|similar aircraft=<!--two seat biplane primary trainers/sportsplanes-->
*[[Avro Tutor]]
*[[Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann]]
*[[Curtiss-Wright CW-12|Curtiss-Wright CW-12 and 16]]
*[[de Havilland Tiger Moth]]
*[[Fokker S.IX]]
*[[New Standard D-29]]
*[[Polikarpov Po-2]]
*[[St. Louis YPT-15]]

|lists=
* [[List of interwar military aircraft]]
* [[List of British Commonwealth Air Training Plan facilities in Canada]] (specifies which BCATP schools used the Finch)
* [[List of aircraft of Canada's air forces]]

|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
}}

==References==

===Notes===
{{Reflist}}

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

==External links==
{{commonscat}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qGJx9mpJ--Y Old Rhinebeck's Fleet 16B Finch performing in flight, 2011] 
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1LvE6plMwa8 "Flying the Finch" – Bruce Paylor's RCAF 4488, 2008]
{{Fleet Aircraft}}
{{Aircraft manufactured in Canada}}

[[Category:1930s Canadian military trainer aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Fleet aircraft|Finch]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1939]]