 |
|
|
| SPECIFICATIONS |
|
|
|
| ENGINE |
|
Kinner R-540 radial,160 h.p. |
| WING SPAN |
|
30 feet |
| LENGTH |
|
22 feet, 7 inches |
| HEIGHT |
|
7 feet |
| MAX TAKEOFF WEIGHT |
|
1,860 pounds |
| CREW |
|
2 |
| MANUFACTURED BY |
|
Ryan Aeronautical |
| TOTAL BUILT |
|
1,148 |
| TOTAL EXISTING |
|
Approximately 200 |
| FIRST BUILT |
|
1941 |
| MUSEUM'S AIRCRAFT BUILT |
|
October 1941 |
| MAXIMUM SPEED |
|
125 m.p.h. |
| RANGE |
|
205 miles |
| SERVICE CEILING |
|
15,400 feet |
|
Odd looking and finicky to fly, the Ryan PT-22 offered a challenge to cadet pilots that the Boeing PT-17 (N2S-4) or the Fairchild PT-19 did not.
The PT-22 was known for its demanding ground handling characteristics. Though not as successful or as well known as the PT-17 or the PT-l9, the
Army Air Force utilized the PT-22 as a primary trainer throughout World War II and, today, the aircraft is sought after by warbird collectors
around the world.
Designer Claude Ryan became famous following the success of Charles Lindbergh's Trans-Atlantic flight. Yet, despite the fame and attention that the
“Spirit of St. Louis” brought to the Ryan Aeronautical Company, Ryan decided to concentrate more on building his flight training schools rather than
additional aircraft. By 1933, however, Ryan was once again designing aircraft and introduced a low-wing monoplane with fixed landing gear, the
Sport-Trainer (more commonly referred to as the “Ryan ST”). The ST became a force in the home and export markets.
In 1940, with America's entrance into World War II only months away, the U.S. Army Air Corps (AAC) evaluated a ST (called the XPT-16 by the AAC) and
ordered 100 for use as primary trainers. Fitted with a powerful Kinner radial engine, the XPT-16 went through a number of different variants before
the definitive PT-22 entered service. Considered similar in layout, the PT-22 differed from earlier versions in that it was not equipped with faired
landing gear or wheel spats. A total of 1,043 PT-22s were built for the AAC, with an additional 100 NR-1 aircraft purchased by the U.S. Navy, and 25
purchased by the Dutch (these aircraft were later turned over to the AAC as the PT-22A ). Not surprisingly, most AAC PT-22s served at Ryan-operated
training schools that were contracted by the AAC to provide primary pilot training to Army cadet pilots.
The PT-22 on display was manufactured by Ryan Aircraft in San Diego, California and was received by the U.S. Army Air Corps on November 13, 1941. It
was then transferred to the Fifth Elementary Flying Training Detachment (36th Flying Training Wing, AAC Flying Training Command), Ryan School of
Aeronautics, Helmet, California. It was based at Helmet until April 1944, when it was transferred to the 4847th Army Air Force (AAF) Base Unit (Specialized Depot,
Air Technical Service Command), State Fairgrounds, Springfield, Illinois. In September 1944, the aircraft was transferred to the 4126th AAF Base Unit
(A.T.S.C.), San Bernardino AAF Base, California and disposed of as surplus. The PT-22 on display is painted in the style of the Army Air Corps Recruits
during World War II.
|
|
|
