Consolidated PT-3

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

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.

Contents

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 with the XPT-2 except for the tail, revised wing panels and different shape. One hundred and thirty production PT-3 aircraft were ordered in September 1927[1], with one being completed as the XO-17. These were followed by one hundred and twenty PT-3A aircraft with minor changes. The XPT-3 became the XPT-5 when fitted with the Curtiss Challenger R-600 two-row 6-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The PT-3 aircraft were superseded by the Boeing PT-13 Stearman starting in 1937, but a number were still operational with the Spartan Flying School in Tulsa Oklahoma into the middle of World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 6-cylinder radial engine in 1929, later converted to PT-3 standard[3]

Operators

 Cuba
 Argentina
 Brazil
 Peru
 Mexico
 United States

Specifications (PT-3)

Data from "United States Military Aircraft Since 1908" by Gordon Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam Newy York, ISBN 0370000943) 1977, 675 pp.

General characteristics

Performance

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "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 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
  3. ^ a b c d e f "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.
USAAC/USAAF/USAF/Tri-service trainer aircraft
Advanced Trainer

AT-1 · AT-2 · AT-3 · AT-4 · AT-5 · AT-6 · AT-7 · AT-8 · AT-9 · AT-10 · AT-11 · AT-12 · XAT-13 · XAT-14 · XAT-15 · AT-16 · AT-17 · AT-18 · AT-19  · AT-20 · AT-21 · AT-22 · AT-23 · AT-24
Basic Combat

BC-1 · BC-2 · BC-3
Basic Trainer

BT-1 · BT-2 · YBT-3  · XBT-4  · YBT-5 · BT-6 · Y1BT-7 · BT-8 · BT-9 · Y1BT-10 · BT-11 · BT-12 · BT-13 · BT-14 · BT-15 · XBT-16 · XBT-17
Primary Trainer (1924-1948)

PT-1 · XPT-2 · PT-3 · PT-4 · XPT-5 · YPT-6 · YPT-7 · XPT-8 · YPT-9 · YPT-10 · PT-11 · PT-12 · PT-13 · PT-14 · YPT-15 · PT-16 · PT-17 · PT-18 · PT-19 · PT-20 · PT-21 · PT-22 · PT-23 · PT-24 · YPT-25  · PT-26 · PT-27
Trainer (1948-1990)

T-28 · T-29 · XT-30 · XT-31 · XT-32 · T-33 · T-34 · T-35 · XT-36 · T-37 · T-38 · T-39 · T-40 · T-41 · T-42 · T-43 · T-44 · T-45 · T-46 · T-47 · YT-48 · T-48 · CT-49 · T-50 · T-51 · T-52 · T-53
"T-1", "T-2", "T-3" and "T-6" have also been assigned since 1962 in a separate sequence.
Aircraft produced by Consolidated Aircraft
Manufacturer designation

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By role

Trainers: PT-1 • PT-2 • PT-11 • AT-22

Observation aircraft: O-17

Fighter: P-30

Patrol: PY  • P2Y  • P3Y  • XP4Y-1/ P4Y-2  • PBY • PB2Y • XPB3Y • PB4Y-1/-2

Bombers: X/B-24 • B-32 • XB-41 • B-36 • BY • XB2Y • LB-30A/B • Liberator B.I • Liberator GR.I

Transports: C-11 • C-22 • C-87 • XC-99 • C-109 • RY • R2Y • Liberator C.IX

Reconaisance: F-7
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