Silvered Wings: Fleet Model 7 (1929-1931)

The Fleet Model 7 was an open-cockpit biplane seating two in tandem and available as a land-based trainer or seaplane. Several hundred other Fleet models were already in service when the Model 7 arrived with a 125-horsepower Kinner B5 engine and revised tail-group.

The unusual tail was the result of a study indicating the need for greater proportions for prompt recovery. The production jump from the Model 2 to the Model 7 omitted the experimental Models 3, 4, 5, and 6. Fleet biplanes were manufactured by Fleet Aircraft, a division of Consolidated Aircraft Corp. in Buffalo, New York.

During World War II Michigan Wing members flew NC424K, a Fleet Model 2 converted to a Model 7. Its rugged build and excellent all-round visibility made it a natural for search and rescue missions.

Maj. Ron Finger is a freelance illustrator and member of the Minnesota Wing’s Crow Wing Composite Squadron. He’s an Air Force Art Program artist, one of a select pool of artists assigned “art missions” to document specific U.S. Air Force operations. 

Among his duties as Civil Air Patrol’s national artist, Finger researches and creates art that portrays our historical emergency service. A personal goal is to complete paintings documenting every aircraft type CAP has flown. 

This is the 24th painting in Finger’s second series of depictions of vintage CAP aircraft. More of Finger’s CAP artwork can be seen at redpine.net.

Silvered Wings No. 1 — Fleetwings Sea Bird F-401Silvered Wings No. 2 — Curtiss-Wright 15-D SedanSilvered Wings No. 3 — Rearwin Sportster 7000Silvered Wings No. 4 — Cessna U-3B “Blue Canoe”Silvered Wings No. 5 — Aeronca C-3 (1932)Silvered Wings No. 6 — Rearwin Sportster 900-LSilvered Wings No. 7 —Travel Air C-4000Silvered Wings No. 8 — Kinner “Sportster B”Silvered Wings No. 9 — Boeing Model 40-A/BSilvered Wings No. 10 — Brunner-Winkle “Bird,” BK (1929)Silvered Wings No. 11 —Meyers OTW-125 “Out-To-Win”Silvered Wings No. 12 — Cessna 0-1/L-19 Bird DogSilvered Wings No. 13 —Monocoupe 90A Silvered Wings No. 14 — Silvered Wings: North American/Ryan L-17A NavionSilvered Wings No. 15 — Aeronca LBSilvered Wings No. 16 — Helio U-10D/HT-295 Super CourierSilvered Wings No. 17 — Aero Commander L-26/U-4B 55-4647Silvered Wings No. 18 — Bellanca “Cruisair” 14-12-F3 (1941)Silvered Wings No. 19 — Cessna 150D (1964)Silvered Wings No. 20 — Boeing Model 100/P-12 (1929)Silvered Wings No. 21 — Bellanca ‘Junior’ 14-9 (1940)Silvered Wings No. 22  — Alexander Eaglerock A-15 (1931)Silvered Wings No. 23  — Cessna T-41A Mescalero (1965)