Old Recruit
By the end of 1942, 1023 copies of the Ryan Aeronautical Company's PT-22 Recruit were in use for training U.S. Army Air Corps cadets. Few Recruits survive, such as this model (above) performing at a sunset air display in England. One PT-22, built in 1941 and until recently in the private Milhouse brothers collection, will be auctioned by Sotheby's on February 25. The auctioneer describes it as "mechanically complete" and flyable at the time it was suspended from the museum's rafters 26 years ago. No reserve price has been set for the Recruit, which is said to offer "limitless potential for display and education." The final hammer price is estimated to be between $50,000 and $80,000.
Photo: Simon Thomas
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