Planes of Fame Airshow 2015: USAAC Seversky AT-12 Guardsman & the Curtiss P-36 Hawk Flying Debut

Planes of Fame in Chino, California operate a very unique 1930’s era aircraft in their flying collection. A Seversky AT-12 Guardsman (USAAC 2 seat advanced training version of the P-35 fighter), which is the only flying example in the world.

Seversky AT-12 Guardsman

The only flying Seversky AT-12 Guardsman

Seversky AT-12 Guardsman on the flightline at the Sunday Planes of Fame Airshow 2015

The USAAC operated 50 AT-12’s. Originally they were ordered by Sweden but an arms embargo in 1940 resulted in them being purchased by the Army (Sweden ordered 52 but only received 2 before the ban). Although intended as an advanced trainer, according to Planes of Fame most of them ended up being a fast transport for base commanders during World War Two (this one, Serial Number 483-38 was last used in this role at Lowery Air Base in Denver, Colorado).

The Seversky AT-12 Guardsman is prepared for flight

The Seversky AT-12 Guardsman rolls out for a flying display at the Planes of Fame Airshow 2015

Another 1930’s fighter took to the skies with the Seversky AT-12 Guardsman at the Planes of Fame Airshow 2015, a Curtiss P-36C Hawk which had recently been restored and made its flying debut at the airshow (the only one of this model flying). This doubled the flying examples of the Hawk in the world, with the other being a French Hawk 75 operated by The Fighter Collection at Duxford in the United Kingdom. They also own this newly restored P-36C and it will be shipped out to them in time for the 2015 European summer airshow season.

The Curtiss P-36 Hawk is prepped for the upcoming Planes of Fame Airshow 2015

The Curtiss P-36 Hawk is taken outside the Planes of Fame Museum on the airshow preview day

The Curtiss P-36 out on the flight line during the Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 preview day

Curtiss P-36 Hawk on the Sunday Planes of Fame Airshow 2015

A magnificent restoration

The P-36 has been restored in Chino for The Fighter Collection in Duxford, UK

Seversky AT-12 Guardsman and Curtiss P-36C Hawk

Ready to fly

Final checks for the P-36C

The Curtiss P-36 Hawk was first introduced in 1938 and was a predecessor to the more famous Curtiss P-40 Warhawk/Kittyhawk fighter of World War Two. This P-36C example (Serial Number 38-210) was the last C model manufactured in 1939 and served with the US Army on the east coast of the United States until retired in 1942. It then ended up in Canada for many years, then back to the United States before being purchased by The Fighter Collection. The recent restoration back to flying condition took 4 years to complete at Chino.

Seversky AT-12 Guardsman takes of for a flying display

Curtiss P-36 Hawk takes off for the Sunday Planes of Fame Airshow 2015 display

AT-12 Guardsman flypast

1930’s US Army veterans take to skies once again!

US Army air history

Curtiss P-36 Hawk

The flying debut for this recently restored P-36

It was fantastic to get a close look at these two aircraft on the ground and see them fly together. Two rare birds indeed!