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

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.

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The PT-3 aircraft were superseded by the Boeing PT-13 Stearman starting in 1937, but a number were still operational with the Spartan Flying School in Tulsa Oklahoma into the middle of World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

four PT-3s

Argentina

one PT-3

Brazil

one PT-3 for Brazilian Naval Aviation, serial number 434.

Peru

one PT-3

Mexico

a small number may have been sold to Mexico

United States

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 ft² (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)
Cruise speed: 81 mph (130 km/h)
Range: 300 miles (483 km)
Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,267 m)
Rate of climb: 658 ft/min (200 m/min)

References

1 2 3 "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.
↑ "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 0-85177-816-X) 1964, 596 pp.
1 2 3 4 5 6 "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.

External links

Media related to Consolidated PT-3 at Wikimedia Commons

United States trainer aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems

Advanced Trainer
(1925-1948)

Basic Combat
(1936-1940)

Basic Trainer
(1930-1948)

Primary Trainer
(1924-1948)

Main sequence
(1948-present)

1948 redesignations	T-6 T-7 T-11 T-13A T-13B/D T-17 T-19

New designations	T-28 T-29 T-30 T-31 T-32 T-33 T-34 T-35 T-36 T-37 T-38 T-39 T-40 T-41 T-42 T-43 T-44 T-45 T-46 T-47 T-48 (I) T-48 (II) CT-49 T-50 T-51 T-52 T-53

Alternate sequences

1962 redesignations	T-1 T-2

1990-1996 sequence	T-1 T-2¹ T-3 T-4¹ T-5¹ T-6

¹ Not assigned

Aircraft produced by Consolidated Aircraft

Manufacturer designation	1 2 7 8 9 10 14 15 16 17 18 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 36 37 39 40

By role	Trainers NY 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 Reconnaissance F-7

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