PT-1 Trusty/PT-3

The PT-1 was the first airplane produced in substantial quantity following World War I. It was used for training aviation cadets in California and Texas and established the basic design for primary trainers into World War II. The PT-1 had a welded fuselage framework of chrome-molybdenum steel tubing for structural strength. Nicknamed "Trusty" because it was so sturdy and easy to fly, it bred overconfidence in some of the student pilots—an undesirable trait for men who were soon to be flying faster airplanes with more difficult handling qualities. It had excellent spin-recovery characteristics. The PT-3 was essentially the same airplane, with a different engine and other minor differences. The PT-1 was selected as the winner of a competition in 1924 held at Brooks Field, Tex. In its first year of service at Brooks, 531 students were trained without a serious injury, significantly better than the JN-4 that it replaced. Four PT-1s were built for Siam. The Navy's NY-1/NY-2 trainer was developed from the PT-1. The O-17 Courier was a development of the PT-3. The Trusty was one of the first aircraft used by the Air National Guard. Only a few PT-1s survive today, and one is on display at the US Air Force Museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.

Contractors: Consolidated Aircraft Co.

Locations Built: Buffalo, N. Y.

Number Built: (USAF) PT-1: 224 (220). PT-3: 157 (150)

First Flight: 1923

First Flight Model: TW-3

First Flight Location: Unconfirmed but most likely East Greenwich, R. I.

First Flight Pilot: Unconfirmed

Models/Variants: PT-1/PT-3

Powerplant: One Wright E liquid-cooled V-8 of 180 hp (One Wright R-790, also called J- 5, Whirlwind of 220 hp on PT-3)

Wingspan: 34 ft 9 in.

Length: 27 ft 8 in.

Height: 9 ft 6 in.

Weight: 2,577 lb gross

Armament: None

Accommodation: Crew of two (student and pilot in tandem)

Cost: $9,800

Max. Speed: 95 mph

Range: 325 mi.

Ceiling: 13,450 ft.

Contractors:	Consolidated Aircraft Co.
Locations Built:	Buffalo, N. Y.
Number Built: (USAF)	PT-1: 224 (220). PT-3: 157 (150)
First Flight:	1923
First Flight Model:	TW-3
First Flight Location:	Unconfirmed but most likely East Greenwich, R. I.
First Flight Pilot:	Unconfirmed
Models/Variants:	PT-1/PT-3
Powerplant:	One Wright E liquid-cooled V-8 of 180 hp (One Wright R-790, also called J- 5, Whirlwind of 220 hp on PT-3)
Wingspan:	34 ft 9 in.
Length:	27 ft 8 in.
Height:	9 ft 6 in.
Weight:	2,577 lb gross
Armament:	None
Accommodation:	Crew of two (student and pilot in tandem)
Cost:	$9,800
Max. Speed:	95 mph
Range:	325 mi.
Ceiling:	13,450 ft.