Consolidated PT-3

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/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.

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.

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, 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.

The PT-3 aircraft were superseded by the Boeing PT-13 Stearman starting in 1937,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.


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

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)

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)

PT-3 130 ordered, one completed as the XO-17 prototype, gross weight 2,481 lb
(1125 kg)

PT-3A 120 ordered with minor updates, Wright J-5, gross weight 2,432 lb (1103
kg)

XPT-4 unbuilt, was to be a development PT-3 with the experimental
Fairchild-Caminez 447C engine

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.

Specifications (PT-3)

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)






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