Ryan PT-22 Recruit explained

The Ryan PT-22 Recruit, the main military version of the Ryan ST, is a military trainer aircraft that was used by the United States Army Air Corps during WWII for primary pilot training.

Design and development

The PT-22's fuselage is a simple monocoque structure, with .032 stressed 24ST alclad skin, and nine aluminum alloy bulkheads. The wings feature spruce spars, aluminum alloy ribs, steel compression members, with aircraft fabric covering aft to the trailing edge and aluminum alloy sheet covering from the leading edge to the spar.[1] The wings have 4° 10' of sweep back, 3° of incidence and 4° 30' dihedral.[2] [3]

The PT-22 fuel system consists of a single tank mounted forward of the front cockpit. Fuel is gravity fed to the carburetor. The oil system is a dry-sump type, with all oil stored in a tank located on the front side of the firewall in the upper section of the fuselage. The wing flaps are mechanically operated from a lever located on the left side of each cockpit. Adjustable elevator trim is provided via an elevator trim tab controllable from a handwheel mounted on the left side of each cockpit. In its original configuration, the aircraft was not equipped with an electrical system. Hydraulic brakes are provided for each wheel, controllable via the rudder pedals in each cockpit.[4]

According to Cassagneres, "The main landing gear, in fact, was the most noticeable external change from the STA in that the wheels were mounted outboard of the shock struts rather than the fork type of the earlier STs and STMs. Therefore the distance between the wheel centers was increased by a full 12 inches. The new gear was known as the 'knuckle-type' mounting." The tailwheel was steerable up to 45 degrees when it became full swivel. All main and tail landing gear used oleo struts. Each cockpit included an airspeed indicator, altimeter, oil temperature and pressure gauges, tachometer and compass. Rate of climb indicator, turn and bank indicator, and clock were optional.[3]

In order to simplify maintenance, the wheel spats and landing gear fairings were deleted in the production examples

Operational history

The PT-22 was developed in 1941 from the civilian Ryan ST series. The earlier PT-20 and PT-21 were the military production versions of the Ryan ST-3 with a total of 100 built. The PT-22 was the United States Army Air Corps' first purpose built monoplane trainer. The rapid expansion of wartime aircrew training required new trainers, and the Ryan PT-22 was ordered in large numbers.[5] Named the "Recruit", it entered operational service with the U.S. Orders also were placed by the Netherlands, but were never realized as the nation capitulated to Axis forces. The small order of 25 ST-3s was redirected to the United States and redesignated as the PT-22A. Another order also came from the U.S. Navy for 100 examples. The PT series was in heavy use throughout the war years with both military and civil schools, but with the end of the war, was retired from the USAAF.[6]

The Ryan PT-22 remains a popular World War II collector aircraft.

Variants

PT-22:Military version of the Model ST.3KR powered by a 160 hp R-540-1, 1,023 built.
  • PT-22A:Model ST-3S twin-float seaplanes ordered by the Netherlands Navy powered by 160 hp Menasco D4B, ordered cancelled and completed for the United States Army Air Corps with 160 hp R-540-1 engines, 25 built.
  • PT-22B:Unbuilt project.
  • PT-22C:PT-22s re-engined with the 160 hp R-540-3, 250 conversions.
  • Operators

    Aircraft on display

    Surviving aircraft

    Several PT-22 remain in flyable condition worldwide, as the aircraft continues to be a popular sport plane and warbird.

    References

    Bibliography

    Notes and References

    1. Mayborn, Mitch. "The Ryan PT/ST Series". Aircraft in Profile, 1967, 1970, Profile Publications.
    2. Book: Carpenter, Dorr B.. Ryan Sport Trainer. SunShine House. 1990. 0-943691-03-6. USA. 69.
    3. Book: Cassagneres . Ev . The Spirit of Ryan . 1982 . TAB BOOKS Inc. . Blue Ridge Summit . 197-199.
    4. Pilots Flight Operating Instructions
    5. Donald 1997, p. 793.
    6. Mondey 2006, p. 225.
    7. Web site: Ryan PT-22 Recruit. Air Combat Museum. 15 November 2016.
    8. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-15329 USAAF, c/n 1358, c/r N47306. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    9. Web site: Ryan PT-22 Recruit. Vintage Flying Museum. Vintage Flying Museum. 15 November 2016.
    10. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-15654 USAF, c/n 1683, c/r N48748. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    11. Web site: Ryan PT-22 Recruit. National Museum of the US Air Force. 15 November 2016. 21 April 2015.
    12. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-15721 USAAF, c/n 0119, c/r N51713. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    13. Web site: Ryan PT-22 Recruit. Air Zoo. Air Zoo. 15 November 2016.
    14. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-20652 USAAF, c/n 1861, c/r N5481L. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    15. Web site: Military Aircraft. Evergreen Museum Campus. Evergreen Museum. 15 November 2016.
    16. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22 Recruit, s/n 41-20952 USAAF, c/n 2161, c/r N53438. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    17. Web site: PT-22 "RECRUIT". Museum of Aviation. 15 November 2016.
    18. Web site: Ryan PT-22A Recruit. Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. 15 November 2016.
    19. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22A Recruit, s/n 42-57481 USAAF, c/n 1777, c/r N46501. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    20. Web site: Ryan PT-22A 'Recruit'. New England Air Museum. New England Air Museum. 15 November 2016.
    21. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-22A Recruit, s/n 42-57492 USAAF, c/n 1788, c/r N51707. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    22. Web site: Ryan PT-22 Recruit. Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing. 15 November 2016.
    23. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan PT-21, s/n 41-1902 USAAF, c/n 1023, c/r N9753N. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    24. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N9753N]]. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 15 November 2016.
    25. Web site: Ryan PT–22. Port Townsend Aero Museum. 15 November 2016.
    26. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan ST-3KR, c/n 1812, c/r N62130. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    27. Web site: FAA REGISTRY [N62130]]. Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. 15 November 2016.
    28. Web site: Airframe Dossier - Ryan ST-3KR, s/n 41-20855 USAAF, c/n 2063, c/r G-BTBH. Aerial Visuals. AerialVisuals.ca. 15 November 2016.
    29. Web site: GINFO Search Results [G-BTBH]]. Civil Aviation Authority. 15 November 2016.
    30. Web site: Arkansas Caf Razorback Caf North Little Rock . 2024-07-17 . Razorback Caf . en.