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."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, ), 1152 pp.
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."United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ) 1964, 596 pp.
The PT-3 aircraft were superseded by the Boeing PT-13 Stearman starting in 1937, but a number were still operational with the Spartan Flying School in Tulsa Oklahoma into the middle of World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.
Variants XPT-2 one PT-1 airframe with a 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)"U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp. 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
Operators
Cuban Air Force, ten PT-3s.
Argentine Air Force, one PT-3.
Brazilian Naval Aviation, one PT-3, serial number 434.
Peruvian Air Force, one PT-3.
a small number may have been sold to Mexico
United States Army Air Corps United States Navy United States Marine Corps
Surviving aircraft The last Consolidated PT-3 was amongst the aircraft lost in the San Diego Air & Space Museum 1978 fire. An airworthy PT-3 replica belongs to the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. It incorporates parts of a PT-1 that once flew with the 154th Observation Squadron of the Arkansas National Guard, was later owned by the University of Arkansas College of Engineering and was rebuilt as a PT-3 reproduction with a radial J-5 Engine.
Specifications (PT-3)
See also Consolidated PT-1 "Trusty" Consolidated O-17 Consolidated PT-11
References
External links