SUMMARY
Although the Ryan PT-22 trainer named Miss Cherie is in excellent shape for a lady of her age, the aircraft’s radio communications equipment and avionics are barely sufficient to allow it to operate in Class C airspace. Members of the Razorback Wing would like to remedy that as soon as possible and hope that this Christmas they can raise the money to outfit the aircraft with the modern equipment needed.

HISTORY
The Ryan PT-22 is a low-winged, radial-engine monoplane with an open cockpit and tandem seating. This aircraft type was used to train pilots during World War II. The PT-22 was the U.S. Army Air Corps’ first purpose-built monoplane trainer. It is estimated that more than 14,000 U.S. Army Air Force pilots learned to fly in the PT-22 before progressing on to more advanced trainers and the fighters and bombers used to win the War. Ryan Aeronautical Company produced less than 2,000 of the aircraft in the 1940s.

PROGRESS
The Razorback Wing airplane sports a polished aluminum fuselage with U.S. Army Air Force Training Command yellow nose, wings, and tail, finished with a red, white, and blue rudder. When explaining the aircraft to the public, Razorback Wing members like to start off by saying “she trained the pilots that would win the War.”

TASKS AHEAD
Miss Cherie is currently in flying condition, but the radio communications equipment and avionics need to be replaced to allow safe operations near larger airports to fulfill the mission of the CAF.

VISION
The Razorback Wing is based in North Little Rock and is the only CAF unit in Arkansas, so they have a large territory to cover and plenty of events to attend and flyovers to perform. Updated communication equipment will help the wing continue to fulfill its mission to preserve and showcase this historic military airplane. They are hopeful to fly a lot more in 2022 once the new equipment is installed.