- Consolidated P2Y
-
Consolidated P2Y 
Consolidated Model 22 (P2Y) Role Flying Boat Manufacturer Consolidated Aircraft First flight 10 January 1929 Retired 1941 Status Retired Primary user United States Navy Number built 78[1][2] The Consolidated P2Y was a flying boat maritime patrol aircraft. The plane was a parasol monoplane with a fabric covered wing and aluminum hull.
A Martin built P3M-2 at NAS Pensacola.
Contents
Development
Initially created to compete for a U.S. Navy contract dated February 28, 1928, the prototype Model 9, XPY-1, was designed by Captain Dick Richardson and Isaac M. 'Mac' Laddon. Beginning construction in March 1928, the aircraft was ready for its first flight by the end of the year. Lieutenant A. W. Gorton made the first flight out of Anacostia NAS, Washington, D.C..[3]
The production contract was opened to other bidders, and the Glenn L. Martin Company undercut and was awarded the contract to construct the plane as the Martin P3M-1 and P3M-2.[3]
A new contract was placed by the U.S. Navy on May 26, 1931, for a prototype of a developed version of the Model 9, XPY-1, designated the Model 22 Ranger by Consolidated. Incorporating features of the Model 16 Commodore such as the enclosed flight deck,[2]designated the XP2Y-1 by the Navy, this new prototype had the same 100 ft parasol wing, but became a sesquiplane with a smaller wing mounted lower, at the top of the hull, replacing the booms that had supported the stabilizing pontoons on the XPY-1. Two Wright R-1820-E1 Cyclone engines were located close below the top wing and had narrow-chord cowlings. A third similar engine was mounted on a strut along the centerline above the wing, but removed after the first test in April 1932.[1]
The Navy ordered 23 P2Y-3s as production models similar to the P2Y-2s that were modified from the original batch of P2Y-1.
Operational history
The Navy ordered 23 P2Y-1s on 7 July 1931. They were serving by mid-1933 with VP-10F and VP-5F squadrons which made a number of classic long-range formation flights.[2]"At least 21 P2Y-1s were modified to P2Y-2s in 1936 and flown by VP-5F and VP-10F until 1938, when they were transferred to VP-14 (later VP-52) and VP-15.
The first P2Y-3s reached VP-7F in 1935, and this version was flown by VP-4F at Pearl Harbor and in 1939 was in operation with VP-19, VP-20, and VP-21 (these three squadrons being redesignated VP-43, VP-44, and VP-14 respectively). By the end of 1941 all the P2Y-2s and P2Y-3s had been withdrawn from operational use and were at Pensacola Naval Air Station.[1]
The Colombian Air Force used one Commodore P2Y as a bomber in the Colombia-Peru War in 1932–1933.
The Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service evaluated the Consolidated P2y as the "Consolidated Navy Experimental Type C Flying-Boat".
Variants
A P2Y-3 of VP-43 at NAS Jacksonville in 1941- XP2Y-1
- one prototype[1]
- P2Y-1
- Navy version of the Commodore. 23 were ordered on July 7, 1931, and were delivered to Patrol Squadron 10 (VP-10) at Norfolk, Virginia on February 1, 1933.[3]
- P2Y-1C
- one aircraft delivered to Colombia in December 1932.[1]
- P2Y-1J
- one aircraft delivered to Japan in January 1935.[1]
- XP2Y-2
- one prototype[1]
- P2Y-2
- was a -1 with more powerful R-1820-88 engines faired into the leading edges of the wing. Other -1s were converted in 1936[3]
- P2Y-3
- was the production version of the -2. A total of 23 were ordered on 27 December 1933, and entered service with VP-7 in early 1935.[3]
- HXC
- Shortened designation for the Consolidated P2Y evaluated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air service.
- Consolidated Navy Experimental Type C Flying Boat.
- The full designation of the Consolidated P2Y evaluated by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service.
Operators
- Six P2Y-3A
- Colombian Air Force (one P2Y-1C).
- Pne P2Y-1J as HXC
Specifications (P2Y-3)
Data from The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Length: 61 ft 9 in (18.82 m)
- Wingspan: 100 ft in (30.48 m)
- Height: 19 ft 1 in (5.82 m)
- Wing area: 1514 ft2 (140.65 m2)
- Empty weight: 12769 lb (5792 kg)
- Gross weight: 25266 lb (11460 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1820-90 Cyclone radial piston, 750 hp (559 kW) each each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 149 mph (240 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 118 mph (189 km/h)
- Range: 2650 miles (1899 km)
- Service ceiling: 16100 ft (4265 m)
- Rate of climb: 650 ft/min (3.3 m/s)
Armament
- 1 × flexible bow-mounted .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns
- 2 × flexible dorsal-mounted .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns
- 2,000 lb (910 kg) bombload
References
Notes
Bibliography
- Donald, David. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
- Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.
- Swanborough, F. Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. New York: Putnam, 1964. ISBN 0-85177-816-X.
- Swanborough, F. Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1976. ISBN 0-87021-968-5.
External links
See also
- Related lists
USN/USMC patrol aircraft designations 1923-1962 Patrol HallKeystonePN • P2N • P4N
LockheedPOSikorskyPS • P2S
LockheedPatrol Bomber XPBB • PB2B
LockheedSikorskyPBSVickers CanadaPatrol Torpedo Bomber HallJapanese Navy Flying Boats designation series Aircraft produced by Consolidated Aircraft Manufacturer designation By role Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- Seaplanes and flying boats
- United States patrol aircraft 1920–1929
- Consolidated aircraft
- Twin-engined aircraft
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