Consolidated PT-11

PT-11
	Consolidated Y1PT-11
Role	Primary trainer
Manufacturer	Consolidated Aircraft Company, Fleet Aircraft
Introduction	1931
Primary users	United States Army Air Corps; United States Coast Guard
Number built	41

The Consolidated Model 21 was an American two-seat training aircraft built by the Consolidated Aircraft Company. It was used by the United States Army Air Corps with the designation PT-11 and the United States Coast Guard under the designation N4Y.

Design and development

The Model 21 was an aerodynamic cleaned up version of the Model 12/PT-3, one of the distinguishing features being curved instead of angular tail surfaces. The aircraft was a single-engined biplane with fixed tailwheel landing gear and accommodation for two in open cockpits.

Operational history

Designated the PT-11 by the United States Army Air Corps it progressed through a number of trial variants but was not built in large numbers. 11 Examples of the model 21-C were built in Canada as the 21-M for Mexico but none were built for local use.

Variants

XPT-933: (Model 21A). Prototype powered by 170 hp (130 kW) Kinner engine, first flew February 1931.^[3]
YPT-11: Evaluation aircraft for US Army based on the Model 21A with a 165 hp (123 kW) Continental R-545-1 engine, four built.^[3]
PT-11A: One YPT-11 was re-engined with a 175 hp (130 kW) Curtiss R-600-1 Challenger engine, originally as Y1PT-11A, later converted to PT-11C standard.^[3]
Y1PT-11B: One YPT-11 was re-engined with a 210 hp (160 kW) Kinner YR-720-1 engine and designated Y1PT-11B. 5 production aircraft for US Army with another for the United States Coast Guard and designated N4Y-1.^[4]
PT-11C: PT-11A re-engined with a 180 hp (130 kW) Lycoming YR-680-1 engine. One or two converted for US Army, with 18 new-build aircraft for Colombia.^[5]
PT-11D: Production version with 220 hp (160 kW) R-680-3 engine, originally designated Y1PT-11D. 21 new-built, plus five conversions from Y1PT11-Bs and two from Y1PT-11s.^[5]
PT-12: A version of the PT-11 with a 300hp R-985-1 engine and detailed changes, ten built later redesignated BT-7.

Y1BT-6: One YPT-11 was re-engined with a 300hp R-985-1
BT-6: Redesignation of Y1BT-6.

BT-7: PT-12 aircraft redesignated.
XN4Y-1: Evaluation aircraft for the United States Coast Guard, three built.
N4Y-1: One YPT-11B for the USCG, later modified to the same standard as the XN4Y-1

Operators

United States

Colombia

Colombian Air Force (PT-11C).

Paraguay

Paraguayan Air Arm (Model 21-C).

Mexico

Mexican Air Force (Model 21-M).

Specifications (PT-11D)

Data from "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985)" Orbis Publishing

General characteristics

Crew: two
Length: 26 ft 11 in (8.20 m)
Wingspan: 31 ft 7 in (9.63 m)
Height: 9 ft 8 in (2.95 m)
Wing area: 280 sq ft (26.01 m²)
Empty weight: 1,918 lb (870 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,585 lb (1,173 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Lycoming R-680A radial piston, 200 hp (149 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 118 mph (190 km/h, 103 kn)
Service ceiling: 13,700 ft (4,175 m)

References

^ "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.
^ "Fleet".
^ ^a ^b ^c Wegg 1990, p. 64.
^ Wegg 1990, p. 65.
^ ^a ^b Wegg 1990, pp. 64–65.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
Wegg, John (1990). General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors. London: Putnam Aeronautical Books. ISBN 0-85177-833-X.

[fahey-1] "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.

[Aerofiles-2] "Fleet".

[Wegg_p64-3] Wegg 1990, p. 64.

[Wegg_p65-4] Wegg 1990, p. 65.

[Wegg_p64-5-5] Wegg 1990, pp. 64–65.

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