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Curtiss AT-9 fast and unforgiving it was built to train
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Curtiss AT-9 fast and unforgiving it was built to train
Curtiss AT-9 fast and unforgiving it was built to train bomber pilots
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Media ID 14222101
© Hugh W. Cowin Aviation Collection / Mary Evans Picture Library
Curtiss Fast Pilots Secondflight Trainers Bomber
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the intensity and focus of bomber pilot training during World War II, as demonstrated by the sleek lines and imposing presence of a Curtiss AT-9 trainer plane. The Curtiss AT-9, also known as the "Second Flight Trainer," was a fast and unforgiving aircraft built specifically for the United States Army Air Force to prepare its pilots for the rigors of combat. Designed in the late 1930s, the AT-9 was a single-engine, single-seat monoplane with a retractable landing gear and a top speed of over 180 miles per hour. Its streamlined design and powerful engine made it a formidable machine, capable of simulating the handling characteristics of larger bombers like the B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator. Training in the AT-9 was no easy feat. Pilots had to learn to manage its powerful engine and handle its agile frame, all while navigating complex flight patterns and bombing runs. The plane's unforgiving nature meant that mistakes were not tolerated, and trainees who could not master the AT-9 would be quickly weeded out of the program. This photograph captures the determination and focus of a young pilot as he prepares for takeoff in his AT-9 trainer. The plane's menacing shadow stretches across the tarmac, a reminder of the high stakes involved in the training process. As the sun casts a golden glow over the scene, we are transported back to a time when the future of the world hung in the balance, and every pilot's skill and courage mattered. This image is a poignant reminder of the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who trained and flew in these aircraft during World War II. It is a testament to the power of human determination and the importance of preparation in the face of adversity.
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