Consolidated PT-3

The Consolidated Model 2 was a training airplane used by the United States Army Air Corps, under the designation PT-3 and the United States Navy under the designation NY-1.

PT-3
Consolidated PT-3
Role Trainer
Manufacturer Consolidated Aircraft Company
Introduction 1927
Primary user United States Army Air Corps
Produced September 1927
Number built 250
Variants Consolidated NY, Consolidated O-17
PT-3 replica

Development

Seeing the success of the Navy's NY-1 modification of a PT-1 airframe, the USAAC came to the conclusion that a radial engine was indeed ideal for a trainer. It was reliable and offered a good power-to-weight ratio. Therefore, one PT-1 airframe was completed as XPT-2 with a 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J-5 Whirlwind radial engine.[1]

The XPT-3 was almost identical to the XPT-2 except for the tail, revised wing panels and different shape. 130 production PT-3 aircraft were ordered in September 1927,[1] with one being completed as the XO-17. These were followed by 120 PT-3A aircraft with minor changes. The XPT-3 became the XPT-5 when fitted with the Curtiss Challenger R-600 two-row six-cylinder radial engine, but was soon converted to PT-3 standard.[2]

The PT-3 aircraft were superseded by the Boeing PT-13 Stearman starting in 1937, but a number were still operational with the Spartan Flying School in Tulsa Oklahoma into the middle of World War II.[1]

Variants

XPT-2
one PT-1 airframe with a 220 hp (160 kW) Wright J-5 (R-790) radial engine, wingspan 34 ft 7 in (10.5 m), length 28 ft 4 in (8.6 m), gross weight 2,427 lb (1100 kg)[3]
XPT-3
one PT-1 airframe with revised wing panels (Clark "Y" wings) and a different vertical tail, wingspan 34 ft 6 in (10.5 m), length 28 ft 3 in (8.6 m), gross weight 2,439 lb (1106 kg)[3]
PT-3
130 ordered, one completed as the XO-17 prototype, gross weight 2,481 lb (1125 kg)[3]
PT-3A
120 ordered with minor updates, Wright J-5, gross weight 2,432 lb (1103 kg)[3]
XPT-4
unbuilt, was to be a development PT-3 with the experimental Fairchild-Caminez 447C engine[3]
XPT-5
the airframe of the XPT-3 was temporarily fitted with the Curtiss Challenger R-600-1 two-row six-cylinder radial engine in 1929, later converted to PT-3 standard[3]

Operators

 Cuba
 Argentina
 Brazil
 Peru
 Mexico
  • a small number may have been sold to Mexico
 United States

Surviving aircraft

Specifications (PT-3)

Data from "United States Military Aircraft Since 1908" by Gordon Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam Newy York, ISBN 0-370-00094-3) 1977, 675 pp.

General characteristics

  • Crew: two
  • Length: 28 ft 1 in (8.56 m)
  • Wingspan: 34 ft 6 in (10.52 m)
  • Height: 10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
  • Wing area: 300 sq ft (27.87 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,785 lb (810 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,481 lb (1,125 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-790-AB radial, 220 hp (164 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 102 mph (164 km/h, 89 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 81 mph (130 km/h, 70 kn)
  • Range: 300 mi (483 km, 260 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,267 m)
  • Rate of climb: 658 ft/min (3.34 m/s)

See also

References

  1. "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
  2. "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 0-85177-816-X) 1964, 596 pp.
  3. "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.
  4. Hagedorn 1993, p. 10
  5. "Fire, Fuel, and Second Chances… The Origins of the Hoover Nozzle and Ring near Brown Field, San Diego, California, May 25, 1978". Check-Six.com. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  6. "Consolidated PT-1/PT-3 Husky - N31PT". EAA. EAA. Retrieved 5 October 2021.
  • Hagedorn, Daniel P. (1993). Central American and Caribbean Air Forces. Tonbridge, Kent, UK: Air-Britain (Historians) Ltd. ISBN 0-85130-210-6.

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