Our AT-19 "Reliant" History

She was built in 1944, Detroit, Michigan, USA and promptly shipped to England. She ended up in immediate service with the Royal Navy, # FK810. She spent the remainder of the war flying missions over the channel as a U-Boat hunter.

After the war and back in the USA once again, she was temporarily property of the "War Assets Administration" in Richmond, Virginia. She was purchased in June, 1946 for $2000.00 by a Mr. Ralph C. Bordley. Thank you Mr. Bordley!

After some difficulty getting a Registration Certificate, one was assigned in November of 1946 to Mr. Bordley, Mr. King, and Mr. Goodberlet. She was designated N60634, S/N 1335. Years later the S/N was corrected to V77-333.

In May, 1951 she was sold to the Dolan Flying Service for only $1400.00. Once more she was put to work, this time towing banners! However, this didn't last and in November of 1953 Dolan surrendered her to the "Fort Cumberland Flyers", Fort Cumberland, Maryland. Grand total, $1.00 and "other valuable considerations".

At this point records show four owners with a Mr. John Wagner in charge of all matters relating to V-77 N60634.

In May, 1954 during the annual inspection her total flying time was 264:15. This earned her a complete recovering of the fuselage, wings, and all control surfaces. Almost one year later, in April of 1955, she was sold once more for a buck and OVC to Mr. James Fraizer who in turn sold her again in March of 1956 for $1200.00.

In June, 1956 her log stated her total time being 347:50.

The next 18 years were hard ones. Sold again for $1.00 and OVC in March, 1957 she moved to Ohio and stayed there for 12 years. Total time logged by October of 1968 was 1009:20. Her engine was replaced twice in the next six months. One R-680-13 was put in, but six months later was replaced with the current engine, a R-680-9.

The engine log states, "April 28, 1969 Engine Model - R680-9 S/N - 41-19726 I certify this engine was purchased war assets July, 1946 zero times since Army overhaul at WRASC, Georgia. Total time - 1445. Grand Forks Airmotive, Inc. s/Doyle L. Kargel.

She did a lot of moving around before finally settling in Winston Salem for an annual inspection during September, 1974.

By 1983 her surface had once again been recovered and she had made a cross country trip to Sonoma, California and into the possession of a Mr. Thomas Gray. By February, 1985 the game was up and Mr. Gray passed her on to the CAF. She made it to Charlotte, North Carolina from Harlingen, Texas in 10:05. A distance of 1325 miles.

In 1986 she was repainted to reflect her service years in WWII. This is how she appears now