Ryan PT-22 Recruit | |
| Country | USA |
| Type | Military trainer aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Ryan Aeronautical Company |
| Number built | 1048 |
Photo gallery of a Ryan PT-22 Recruit, The Ryan PT-22 Recruit, the main military version of the Ryan ST, is a military trainer aircraft used by the United States Army Air Corps and its successor, the United States Army Air Forces for primary pilot training.
Source: Ryan PT-22 Recruit on Wiki
| Ryan PT-22 Recruit | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Pacific Coast Dream Machines 2010 |
| Photos | 34 |
Buy Me a Coffee| Ryan PT-22 Recruit Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Unknow |
| Localisation | Unknow |
| Photos | 20 |
See also:
The Evolution of the Sport Trainer
The Ryan PT-22 Recruit was a radical departure from the fabric-covered biplanes that traditionally trained American pilots. Derived from the civilian Ryan ST (Sport Trainer), the PT-22 was the U.S. Army Air Corps’ first monoplane primary trainer. With its polished aluminum fuselage, swept-back wings, and external wire bracing, it looked fast even sitting on the ramp. While it was more difficult to fly than a Stearman—demanding precise rudder control and careful attention during landing—it provided cadets with a realistic introduction to the high-performance monoplanes they would eventually fly in combat.
| Attribute | Technical Specification (PT-22) |
|---|---|
| Role | Primary Trainer |
| Crew | 2 (Student and Instructor in tandem) |
| First Flight | 1941 (PT-22 production) |
| Powerplant | 1 × Kinner R-540 (R-55) 5-cylinder radial |
| Horsepower | 160 hp (119 kW) |
| Maximum Speed | 201 km/h (125 mph) |
| Service Ceiling | 4,725 m (15,500 ft) |
| Construction | Monocoque aluminum fuselage; fabric-covered wings |
Design Engineering: The “Maytag” and the Wires
- The Kinner Radial: The PT-22 was powered by a distinctive five-cylinder Kinner engine. Because of its rhythmic, chattering sound, cadets nicknamed the plane the “Maytag Mess” (after the washing machine). The exposed cylinders made maintenance easy but led to a very draggy front profile.
- External Wire Bracing: Unlike most modern monoplanes, the PT-22’s wings were held in place by a complex system of flying and landing wires attached to the fuselage and the landing gear. This allowed the wing structure to be lighter while maintaining high structural strength for aerobatics.
- Swiveling Tailwheel: To improve ground handling, the PT-22 featured a fully swiveling tailwheel. However, this also made it notorious for “ground loops” if the student wasn’t quick enough on the rudder during takeoff or landing rolls.
- Tandem Open Cockpits: The instructor sat in the front and the student in the back. Unlike later trainers, the PT-22 lacked a canopy, meaning pilots were fully exposed to the elements, requiring goggles and leather helmets for every flight.
Legacy: Training the “Greatest Generation”
- Over 1,000 Built: Between 1941 and 1942, Ryan Aeronautical built over 1,000 Recruits. It was one of the most successful primary trainers of the early war period before the standardized BT-13 and AT-6 took over.
- The “ST” Heritage: Because it was based on the Ryan ST sport plane, the PT-22 was exceptionally agile. It could perform all the basic loops, rolls, and spins required for military certification, often with more grace than its heavier counterparts.
- Civilian Survivor: After the war, hundreds of PT-22s were sold as surplus for as little as $500. Today, they are highly prized “warbirds” at airshows, famous for their mirror-polished silver finish and the distinctive “pop-pop-pop” of their Kinner engines.
- The “Recruit” Nickname: The name was fitting; for many young men from rural America, the PT-22 was the very first piece of advanced technology they ever touched upon joining the Army Air Forces.
Views : 3517
You can see also :
Lockheed C-5 Galaxy – Photos & Videos
Canadair CF-104 Starfighter – Photos & Videos
Ryan X-13 Vertijet – Photos & Videos
SPAD S.XIII – Photos & Videos
Ryan FR Fireball – Photos & Video
Ryan Navion – Photos & Video
CASA 2.111 vol3 – WalkAround
AV-8B Harrier II Plus – WalkAround
Mikoyan MiG-29 – WalkAround
C-17 Globemaster – WalkAround