The only aircraft designed and built by Canadians during the Second World War, the Fort was designed by the Fleet Corporation of Canada in 1938 and was the first aircraft was flown during March 1940. The prototype was evaluated by the RCAF as an intermediate, single-engine training aircraft (a stage between the elementary bi-planes, and the more powerful Harvard advanced trainer).

Two hundred aircraft were ordered by the RCAF but production was delayed and the first RCAF model was not flying until April 1941. At that time, the concept of an intermediate training aircraft was abandoned, leading to the contract being sharply cut back. Only 101 Forts were ultimately delivered to the RCAF, the first being delivered in the spring of 1941.

The Fort was not successful as a pilot-training aircraft and the aircraft were assigned for use in airborne wireless training operations at BCATP wireless schools during the summer of 1941. The Fleet Fort had a relatively short operational career, the last Forts seeing active service in 1944.