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Consolidated PT-1 Trusty

1924 GOLDEN AGE

Consolidated PT-1 Trusty History

"Trusty" is a product of United Aircraft (though designed under the Dayton-Wright brand, itself a subsidiary of parent company General Motors) and certified as a major US Army Aviation Service coach in 1921. The PT-1 gained a reputation as a stable and responsive platform (hence the "Trusty" moniker) and gained the trust of many early American military pilots. The system had an advanced construction compared to the all-wood type in the early days of World War I and was the first to be ordered by USAAS (United States Army Air Service - because the USAF is still part of the USAF) airplane.

After the end of World War I hostilities, the Army arrived this time). time).

Externally, the PT-1 takes the form of a biplane with a simple two-wheeled landing gear, an engine mounted to the front of the design, a conventional tail section, and two seats for teachers and students side by side. Internally, the aircraft features a reinforced welded tube construction with a choice of Clerget or Le Rhone engines.

Dayton-Wright approached USAAS to replace their Curtiss JN-4 Jenny line of World War I-era sneakers, and in turn were asked to provide three TA-3 models for evaluation. Although the design itself proved promising enough, the TA-3 (marked with an "A" for its air-cooled engine operation) was fitted with an upgraded 110-horsepower Le Rhone engine upon request. Additional evaluation models were ordered, this time calling for a Wright-Hispano I V-8, 150 hp engine with increased output (designated TW-3, "W" for its water-cooled engine process), culminating in an official number one ordered by USAAS .

Newly formed Consolidated Aircraft Company (founded by Gallaudet's Reuben Fleet) secures trainer production rights as General Motors reviews its commitment to aircraft production in the postwar world and will eventually cease in Dayton The operation of -- all in all, Wright. Delivered in 1923, the TW-3 became the first notable variant of the "Trusty" line.

The TW-3 continues to improve the design, including the removal of the fairing (to improve visibility forward of the cockpit) and a redesigned fuselage with a slimmer fuselage with a double trainer/student seat (this model is known as the "Camel" ). Visible bulge between the two seating areas).

The Camel was given the (unofficial) designation TW-8 and entered service as PT-1, with 221 delivered from 1924, replacing the TW in service -3.

The PT-1 would eventually be replaced itself by the Consolidated PT-3 from 1928 onwards.

Consolidated PT-1 Trusty Specification

BASICS

Year:

1924

Crew:

MANUFACTURING

[ 221 Units ] :

Consolidated / Dayton-Wright - USA

ROLES

- Training

DIMENSIONS

Length:

27. 76 ft (8. 46 m)

Width/Span:

34. 45 ft (10. 5 m)

Height:

9. 84 ft (3 m)

WEIGHTS

Empty Weight:

1,806 lb (819 kg)

MTOW:

2,577 lb (1,169 kg)

(Diff: +772lb)

POWER

1 x Wright-Hispano E 8-cylinder water-cooled Vee engine developing 180 horsepower.

PERFORMANCE

Maximum Speed:

92 mph (148 kph; 80 kts)

Service Ceiling:

13,448 feet (4,099 m; 2. 55 miles)

Maximum Range:

350 miles (563 km; 304 nm)

Rate-of-Climb:

690 ft/min (210 m/min)

ARMAMENT

None.

VARIANTS

TA-3 - Dayton-Wright production; equipped with 80 hp Le Rhone C-9 series engine.

TA-5 - Example of a single production model; equipped with Lawrence J-1 series engines; based on the TA-3 production model.

TW-3 - Dayton-Wright and Consolidated production models; Dayton-Wright with 150 hp Wright-Hispano E-Series water-cooled engine and 180 hp Wright-Hispano E-Series engine.

PT-1 - Base Series Designation; fitted with Wright-Hispano E series engines of 180 horsepower; 221 examples produced; replaced TW-3.

XPT-2 - PT-1 model fitted with Wright R-790 series radial J-5 engine of 225 horsepower.

TW-8 - Unofficial Prototype Model Designation; known as the "Camel" for the visible hump between instructor and student seating positions.