Consolidated P-30

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The Consolidated P-30 (PB-2) was a 1930s United States two-seat fighter aircraft. An attack version called the A-11 was also built, along with 2 Y1P-25 prototypes and YP-27, Y1P-28, and XP-33 proposals. The P-30 is significant for being the first fighter in United States Army Air Corps service to have retractable landing gear, an enclosed and heated cockpit for the pilot, and an exhaust-driven turbo-supercharger for altitude operation.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

Design and development

In 1931, the Detroit Aircraft Corporation, parent company of the Lockheed Aircraft Company, built a two-seat single-engined fighter aircraft based on the Lockheed Altair high-speed transport as a private venture. The prototype, the Detroit-Lockheed XP-900, flew in September 1931 and was purchased by the United States Army Air Corps as the Lockheed YP-24. It had impressive performance, being faster than any fighter then in service with the Air Corps, and an order for five Y1P-24 fighters and four Y1A-9 attack aircraft was placed for the new aircraft, despite the loss of the prototype on 19 October 1931.[1][2] The Detroit Aircraft Corporation went into bankruptcy eight days later, however, leading to the cancellation of the contract.[1][3]

When the Detroit Aircraft Corporation failed, the chief designer of the YP-24, Robert J. Woods was hired by Consolidated Aircraft.[3] Woods continued to develop the YP-24, the design becoming the Consolidated Model 25, with all-metal wings replacing the wooden wings of the YP-24 and with a larger tail. The Army Air Corps ordered two prototypes as the Y1P-25 in March 1932, to be powered by a Curtiss V-1570-27, fitted with a turbo-supercharger on the port side of the forward fuselage. The order for the second prototype was quickly changed to a Y1A-11 attack aircraft, omitting the supercharger.[4][5]

First to fly was the Y1P-25, which was delivered to the Air Corps on 9 December 1932. It demonstrated promising performance, reaching a speed of Script error: No such module "convert". at Script error: No such module "convert"., but was destroyed in a crash on 13 January 1933, killing its pilot, Capt. Hugh M. Elmendorf (whose name was later given to Elmendorf Air Base in Alaska).[4][6]

The Y1A-11, armed with four forward-firing machine guns instead of the two of the Y1P-25 and racks for Template:Cvt of bombs, was delivered to Wright Field on 5 January 1933. On 20 January 1933, the Y1A-11 disintegrated in midair, killing pilot Lt. Irvin A. Woodring.[7] Despite the loss of both prototypes in a week, on 1 March 1933, the Air Corps placed an order for four P-30 fighters and four A-11 attack aircraft. These production variants differed from the prototypes in having stronger fuselages, simplified undercarriages and more powerful engines.[3][8]

Operational history

The first P-30 was delivered in January 1934.[8] Testing showed that the gunner's cockpit was uncomfortable and cold at the high altitudes where the P-30 was intended to fight, while the rearward-facing gunners were liable to black out when the aircraft was maneuvered.[9] Despite these concerns, on 6 December 1934, the U.S. Air Corps placed an order for a further 50 P-30As, with more powerful V-1570-61 engines driving a three-bladed variable-pitch propeller and with oxygen supplies for the crew.[10][11]

Three of the four P-30s were delivered to the 94th Pursuit Squadron at Selfridge Field in 1934. The first P-30A, by this time redesignated PB-2A (pursuit, biplace), made its maiden flight on 17 December 1935, with deliveries to service units starting on 28 April 1936. The last of the 50 PB-2As were completed by August that year.[11]

While intended as a high altitude fighter, the PB-2 flew relatively few high-altitude flights, partly because of the discomfort for the crew. One exception took place in March 1937, when a PB-2A was flown to Script error: No such module "convert". before being forced to return to lower altitudes when the aircraft's controls froze.[12] On 17 October 1936, a PB-2A flown by Lt. John M. Sterling won the Mitchell Trophy air race with a speed of Script error: No such module "convert"..[13] Since the PB-2A was one of the few aircraft at the time to have retractable landing gear, they were frequently damaged in "wheels-up" landings when the pilots forgot to extend the landing gear.[14]

One PB-2A was modified to a single-seat configuration as the PB-2A Special, to compete in a 1936 Air Corps competition for a new fighter to replace the Boeing P-26 Peashooter. It was larger and heavier than the other competitors and was much more expensive.Script error: No such module "Unsubst". It crashed during testing, with the Seversky P-35 being ordered into production.[15][16] One A-11 was converted to the XA-11A testbed with the new Template:Cvt Allison XV-1710-7 engine.[13]

While the PB-2 was sturdy,[14] the two-seat fighter concept was obsolete by the time the aircraft entered service,[13] and by 1939, all had been replaced in front-line service by Seversky P-35 and Curtiss P-36 Hawk aircraft. The survivors remained in use as training aircraft until after the start of World War II, with the last being withdrawn from use on 2 June 1942.[17]

Variants

Y1P-25
Further development of Lockheed YP-24 with all-metal wing, Template:Cvt Curtiss V-1570-27 Conqueror turbo-supercharged engine. Two fixed forward firing .30 in machine guns and one flexibly mounted gun in rear cockpit. One built.[6]
Y1A-11
Ground-attack version of Y1P-25. Powered by unsupercharged engine and armament of 4 forward-firing .30 in guns in nose, one in rear cockpit and up to Template:Cvt of bombs. One built.[3][7]
YP-27
Proposed variant of Y1P-25 with a Template:Cvt Pratt & Whitney R-1340-21G Wasp radial engine. Unbuilt.[18]
Y1P-28
Proposed variant of Y1P-25 with a Template:Cvt R-1340-19 Wasp; unbuilt.[18]
P-30
Initial production batch for Army Air Corps. Template:Cvt Curtiss V-1570-57 turbo-supercharged engine. Four built, later redesignated PB-2.[3][15]
File:Consolidated A-11 (SN 33-211).jpg
The last of the four Consolidated A-11s
A-11
Initial production ground-attack aircraft, with unsupercharged V-1570-59 engine. Four built.[3]
P-30A
Main production fighter powered by a Template:Cvt turbo-supercharged Curtiss V-1570-61 engine; 50 built, redesignated PB-2A.[15]
File:Consolidated PB-2A Special on ground rear view.jpg
The PB-2A Special
PB-2A Special
Seventh PB-2A modified to single-seat configuration. Crashed during flight testing.
XP-33
Proposed version with a Template:Cvt Pratt & Whitney R-1830-1 Twin Wasp engine; unbuilt.[15]
XA-11A
Conversion of A-11 as testbed for Template:Cvt Allison XV-1710-7. One converted by Bell Aircraft, who referred to it as their Model 2.[13]

Specifications (PB-2A)

Template:Aircraft specs

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

Notes

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  1. ↑ a b Francillon 1982, pp. 114–115.
  2. ↑ Angelucci and Bowers 1987, p. 262.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f Wegg 1990, p. 68.
  4. ↑ a b Pelletier 2000, p. 2.
  5. ↑ Angelucci and Bowers 1987, pp. 95–96.
  6. ↑ a b Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 51.
  7. ↑ a b Pelletier 2002, pp. 2–3.
  8. ↑ a b Pelletier 2002, p. 3.
  9. ↑ Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 57.
  10. ↑ Wegg 1990, pp. 68–69.
  11. ↑ a b Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  12. ↑ Pelletier 2002, p. 10.
  13. ↑ a b c d Wegg 1990, p. 69.
  14. ↑ a b Pelletier 2002, p. 9.
  15. ↑ a b c d Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".
  16. ↑ Green and Swanborough 1979, p. 11.
  17. ↑ Pelletier 2002, p. 11.
  18. ↑ a b Angelucci and Bowers 1987, p. 96.

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Bibliography

  • Angelucci, Enzo. and Peter M. Bowers. The American Fighter. New York: Orion Books, 1987. Template:ISBN.
  • Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple Press/Aerospace, 1990. Template:ISBN
  • Francillon, René J. Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. London: Putnam, 1982. Template:ISBN.
  • Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. "The end of the beginning ... The Seversky P-35". Air Enthusiast Ten, July–September 1979, pp. 8–21.
  • Pelletier, Alain J. "Singular Two-Seater: Consolidated's PB-2A – The USAAC's Only Two-Seat Fighter". Air Enthusiast No. 85, January/February 2000, pp. 2–11. ISSN 0143-5450.
  • Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian, 1989. Template:ISBN.
  • Wegg, John. General Dynamics Aircraft and their Predecessors. London: Putnam, 1990. Template:ISBN.

External links

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