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Photographer Larry Lamb captured this beautiful Ryan
PT-22 Recruit, owned and flown by Bob Alexander, as it gleamed in the sun over Lake
Lowell, Idaho, USA in May 2004. Copilot Shawn Leckie. SNJ-6 photo ship flown by Gary
Hubler.
History: The Ryan Recruit was the U.S. Army
Air Corps' first monoplane primary trainer. Initial testing of a single RYAN S-T-A
(Sport-Trainer-A) resulted in an order for 15 more aircraft, re-designated the YPT-16,
for evaluation in 1939. Finding this tandem two-seater to be an excellent design, the
USAAC ordered a production batch of 30 aircraft, designated the PT-20.
In 1941, the Army decided a new more powerful engine was needed to endure the rigors of
training new pilots. Ryan Aeronautical replaced the inline engine of the previous version
with a Kinner radial engine. The resulting PT-21 was so superior
that many PT-16s and PT-20s were
upgraded with the new engine, becoming PT-16As and PT-20As.
With flight training programs expanding across the United
States, 1,023 more planes were ordered. These had an improved Kinner radial, no wheel
spats, and the deletion of the main landing gear fairings. This became the PT-22.
The Navy also ordered the Recruits and re-designated them as NR-1s,
and the Netherlands ordered 25 Recruits and called them NR-3s.
The Navy used these trainers until 1944, and the USAAC would retire the Recruit at the end
of World War Two.
Today there are flying examples of each variant to be found across North America. There
are also examples operated by warbird enthusiasts in the UK and Australia.
Nicknames: "Maytag
Messerschmitt"
Specifications (PT-22):
Engine: One 160-hp Kinner R-540-1 five-cylinder radial engine
Weight: Empty 1,313 lbs., Max
Takeoff 1,860 lbs.
WIng Span: 30ft. 1in.
Length: 22ft. 5in.
Height: 6ft. 10in.
Performance:
Maximum Speed:
131 mph
Ceiling: 15,000
ft.
Range: 352 miles
Armament: None
Number Built: ~1273
Number Still Airworthy: 85+
 [
Ryan PT-22
Pilot
Report by Budd Davisson ]
[ More PT-22 Photos ]
Cockpit Photo
(Ryan ST3KR N48608):
(Click to enlarge)
Links:
AeroWeb PT-22 Reference Page
Captain Lee's PT-22 Project
Cavanugh
Flight Museum (Texas, USA) PT-22
USAF Museum PT-22
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The
Warbird Trainers (VHS Video)
Produced by Steve Kahn
Color, Not Rated
VHS, NTSC Format (USA and Canada)
This is the final video starring noted aviation historian and pilot Jeff Ethell. It
features him flying the PT-22, T-6, and the BT-13. A unique look at the aircraft which
taught thousands of young men to fly in World War II, presented as only Mr. Ethell could
do it.
Price $29.95
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All text and photos Copyright 2006 The
Doublestar Group, unless otherwise noted.
You may use this page for your own, non-commercial reference purposes only.
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