PT-22 Recruit
A refurbished Ryan PT-22 performing at the Shoreham Airshow 2012
Role Trainer
Manufacturer Ryan Aeronautical Company
Primary users United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Corps
Number built 1,048
Developed from Ryan ST

The Ryan PT-22 Recruit, the main military version of the Ryan ST, is a military trainer aircraft that was used by the United States Army Air Corps during WWII for primary pilot training.

Design and development

The PT-22's fuselage is a simple monocoque structure, with .032 stressed 24ST alclad skin, and nine aluminum alloy bulkheads. The wings feature spruce spars, aluminum alloy ribs, steel compression members, with aircraft fabric covering aft to the trailing edge and aluminum alloy sheet covering from the leading edge to the spar.[1] The wings have 4° 10' of sweep back, 3° of incidence and 4° 30' dihedral.[2][3]

The PT-22 fuel system consists of a single tank mounted forward of the front cockpit. Fuel is gravity fed to the carburetor. The oil system is a dry-sump type, with all oil stored in a tank located on the front side of the firewall in the upper section of the fuselage. The wing flaps are mechanically operated from a lever located on the left side of each cockpit. Adjustable elevator trim is provided via an elevator trim tab controllable from a handwheel mounted on the left side of each cockpit. In its original configuration, the aircraft was not equipped with an electrical system. Hydraulic brakes are provided for each wheel, controllable via the rudder pedals in each cockpit.[4]

According to Cassagneres, "The main landing gear, in fact, was the most noticeable external change from the STA in that the wheels were mounted outboard of the shock struts rather than the fork type of the earlier STs and STMs. Therefore the distance between the wheel centers was increased by a full 12 inches. The new gear was known as the 'knuckle-type' mounting." The tailwheel was steerable up to 45 degrees when it became full swivel. All main and tail landing gear used oleo struts. Each cockpit included an airspeed indicator, altimeter, oil temperature and pressure gauges, tachometer and compass. Rate of climb indicator, turn and bank indicator, and clock were optional.[3]

In order to simplify maintenance, the wheel spats and landing gear fairings were deleted in the production examples

Operational history

The PT-22 was developed in 1941 from the civilian Ryan ST series. The earlier PT-20 and PT-21 were the military production versions of the Ryan ST-3 with a total of 100 built. The PT-22 was the United States Army Air Corps' first purpose built monoplane trainer. The rapid expansion of wartime aircrew training required new trainers, and the Ryan PT-22 was ordered in large numbers.[5] Named the "Recruit", it entered operational service with the U.S. Orders also were placed by the Netherlands, but were never realized as the nation capitulated to Axis forces. The small order of 25 ST-3s was redirected to the United States and redesignated as the PT-22A. Another order also came from the U.S. Navy for 100 examples. The PT series was in heavy use throughout the war years with both military and civil schools, but with the end of the war, was retired from the USAAF.[6]

The Ryan PT-22 remains a popular World War II collector aircraft.

Variants

Ryan PT-22 Recruit instrument panel
PT-22
Military version of the Model ST.3KR powered by a 160 hp R-540-1, 1,023 built.
PT-22A
Model ST-3S twin-float seaplanes ordered by the Netherlands Navy powered by 160 hp Menasco D4B, ordered cancelled and completed for the United States Army Air Corps with 160 hp R-540-1 engines, 25 built.
PT-22B
Unbuilt project.
PT-22C
PT-22s re-engined with the 160 hp R-540-3, 250 conversions.

Operators

 China
 Ecuador
 USA

Aircraft on display

PT-22 on display at the Air Zoo

Surviving aircraft

Ryan PT-22 Recruit

Several PT-22 remain in flyable condition worldwide, as the aircraft continues to be a popular sport plane and warbird.

Specifications (PT-22)

Data from Pilots Flight Operating Instructions[4] and The New Ryan[30]

General characteristics

  • Crew: two (student and instructor)
  • Capacity: 552 lb (250 kg) useful load
  • Length: 22 ft 5 in (6.90 m)
  • Wingspan: 30 ft 1 in (9.17 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
  • Wing area: 134.25 sq ft (12.5 m2)
  • Airfoil: NACA 2412
  • Empty weight: 1,308 lb (593 kg)
  • Gross weight: 1,860 lb (844 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 1,860 lb (844 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Kinner R-540 , 160 hp (120 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 125 mph (200 km/h, 109 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
  • Stall speed: 62 mph (100 km/h, 54 kn) flaps down 64 mph (103km/h, 56 kn) flaps up
  • Never exceed speed: 190 mph (305 km/h, 170 kn)
  • Range: 231 mi (371 km, 201 nmi) at 1560 RPM
  • Service ceiling: 15,400 ft (4,700 m)
  • Rate of climb: 710 ft/min (3.6 m/s) at max takeoff weight
  • Wing loading: 13.6 lb/sq ft (66 kg/m2)

Armament

  • none

Avionics

  • none

References

Notes

  1. ↑ Mayborn, Mitch. "The Ryan PT/ST Series". Aircraft in Profile, 1967, 1970, Profile Publications.
  2. ↑ Carpenter, Dorr B. (1990). Ryan Sport Trainer. USA: SunShine House. p. 69. ISBN 0-943691-03-6.
  3. 1 2 Cassagneres, Ev (1982). The Spirit of Ryan. Blue Ridge Summit: TAB BOOKS Inc. pp. 197–199.
  4. 1 2 Pilots Flight Operating Instructions
  5. ↑ Donald 1997, p. 793.
  6. ↑ Mondey 2006, p. 225.
  7. ↑ "Ryan PT-22 Recruit". Air Combat Museum. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  8. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-15329 USAAF, c/n 1358, c/r N47306". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  9. ↑ "Ryan PT-22 Recruit". Vintage Flying Museum. Vintage Flying Museum. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  10. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-15654 USAF, c/n 1683, c/r N48748". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  11. ↑ "Ryan PT-22 Recruit". National Museum of the US Air Force. 21 April 2015. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  12. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-15721 USAAF, c/n 0119, c/r N51713". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  13. ↑ "Ryan PT-22 Recruit". Air Zoo. Air Zoo. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  14. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-20652 USAAF, c/n 1861, c/r N5481L". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  15. ↑ "Military Aircraft". Evergreen Museum Campus. Evergreen Museum. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  16. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-20952 USAAF, c/n 2161, c/r N53438". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  17. ↑ "PT-22 "RECRUIT"". Museum of Aviation. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  18. ↑ "Ryan PT-22A Recruit". Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  19. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22A Recruit, s/n 42-57481 USAAF, c/n 1777, c/r N46501". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  20. ↑ "Ryan PT-22A 'Recruit'". New England Air Museum. New England Air Museum. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  21. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22A Recruit, s/n 42-57492 USAAF, c/n 1788, c/r N51707". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  22. ↑ "Ryan PT-22 Recruit". Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  23. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-21, s/n 41-1902 USAAF, c/n 1023, c/r N9753N". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  24. ↑ "FAA REGISTRY [N9753N]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  25. ↑ "Ryan PT–22". Port Townsend Aero Museum. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  26. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan ST-3KR, c/n 1812, c/r N62130". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  27. ↑ "FAA REGISTRY [N62130]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  28. ↑ "Airframe Dossier - Ryan ST-3KR, s/n 41-20855 USAAF, c/n 2063, c/r G-BTBH". Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  29. ↑ "GINFO Search Results [G-BTBH]". Civil Aviation Authority. Retrieved 15 November 2016.
  30. ↑ The New Ryan: Development and History of the Ryan ST and SC 1995, p. 117.

Bibliography

  • Cassagneres, Ev. The New Ryan: Development and History of the Ryan ST and SC. Eagan, Minnesota: Flying Books, 1995. ISBN 978-0-91113-920-4.
  • Donald, David, ed. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
  • Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II (Hamlyn Concise Guide). London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.
  • Pilots Flight Operating Instructions for Army Model PT-22 Airplanes, T.O. NO. 01-100GC-1. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: U.S. Army Air Forces, 1943.
  • United States Air Force Museum Guidebook. Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio: Air Force Museum Foundation, 1975.
  • Dorr B. Carpenter. "Ryan Sport Trainer", SunShine House, Terre Haute Indiana. ISBN 0-943691-03-6. 1990.
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