PB2Y Coronado
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The PB2Y Coronado was a large flying boat patrol bomber designed by Consolidated Aircraft. After deliveries of the PBY Catalina, also a Consolidated aircraft, began in 1935, the U.S. Navy began planning for the next generation of patrol bombers. Orders for two prototypes, the XPB2Y-1 and the Sikorsky XPBS-1, were placed in 1936; the prototype Coronado first flew in December of 1937.[1]
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[edit] Development
After trials with the XPB2Y-1 prototype revealed some stability issues, the design was finalized as the PB2Y-2, with a large cantilever wing, twin tail, and four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial engines. The two inner engines were fitted with four-bladed reversible pitch propellers; the outer engines had standard three-bladed feathering props.[2] Like the PBY Catalina before it, the PB2Y’s wingtip floats retracted to reduce drag and increase range.
Development continued throughout the war. The PB2Y-3, featuring self-sealing fuel tanks and additional armor, entered service just after the attack on Pearl Harbor and formed most of the early-war Coronado fleet. The prototype XPB2Y-4 was powered by four Wright R-2600 radials and offered improved performance, but the increases were not enough to justify a full fleet update. However, most PB2Y-3 models were converted to the PB2Y-5 standard, with the R-1830 engines replaced with single-stage R-1830-92 models. As most existing P2BY-3s were used as transports, flying low to avoid combat, removing the excess weight of unneeded superchargers allowed an increased payload without harming low-altitude performance.
Coronados served in combat in the Pacific, in both bombing and anti-submarine roles. Transport and hospital aircraft were the most common, however; the aircraft used by the British under Lend-Lease were outfitted purely as transports.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Present day
One Coronado remains, as of 2005, at the Pensacola, Florida National Museum of Naval Aviation.
[edit] Specifications (PB2Y-5)
Data from Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 10 (5 in transport role)
- Capacity: 16,000 lb (7,264 kg) of cargo or 44 passengers (PB2Y-3R); 25 stretchers (PB2Y-5H)
- Length: 79 ft 3 in (24.2 m)
- Wingspan: 115 ft 0 in (35 m)
- Height: 27 ft 6 in (8.4 m)
- Wing area: 1,780 ft² (165.4 m²)
- Empty weight: 40,850 lb (18,530 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 66,000 lb (29,940 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 radial engines, 1,200 hp (895 kW each) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 194 mph (310 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 170 mph (272 km/h)
- Range: 1,070 mi (1,720 km) at 131 mph (210 km/h)
- Service ceiling: 20,500 ft (6,250 m)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)
Armament
- 6× .50 cal Browning M2 in three powered turrets
- 2× .50 cal Browning M2 in waist mounts
- 2× Mark 13 torpedoes or up to 12,000 lb of bombs, housed in the wings
[edit] References
- ^ Andrews, Hal (November-December 1989). "PB2Y Coronado". Naval Aviation News 72 (No. 1): 22-23. ISSN 0028-1417.
- ^ a b Bridgman, Leonard, ed. “The Consolidated Vultee Model 29 Coronado.” Jane’s Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. 218-219. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.
