Ryan PT 22 Recruit

Design and development

The PT-22's fuselage is a simple monocoque structure, with thick gauge alclad skin. 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. The wings have 4° 10' of sweep back, 3° of incidence and 4° 30' dihedral.

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.

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. 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 U.S.A.A.F.

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

 China

 Ecuador

Ecuadorian Air Force

 USA

United States Army Air Corps

United States Army Air Forces

Aircraft on display

41-15329 – PT-22 on display at the Air Combat Museum in Springfield, Illinois.

41-15654 – PT-22 on display at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. It is awaiting an engine rebuild.

41-15721 – PT-22 on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.

41-20652 – PT-22 on static display at the Main Campus of the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

41-20952 – PT-22 on static display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.

41-21039 – PT-22 on static display at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia.

42-57481 – PT-22A on static display at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia.

42-57492 – PT-22A in storage at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.

Survivors

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

41-1902 – PT-22 airworthy at the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing in South St. Paul, Minnesota.

c/n 1812 – ST-3KR airworthy at the Port Townsend Aero Museum in Port Townsend, Washington.

41-20855 – PT-22 airworthy with the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden, Bedfordshire. This airframe is the first PT-22 prototype and is designated "001".

Specifications (PT-22)

Data from Pilots Flight Operating Instructions and The New Ryan

General characteristics

Crew: two (student and instructor)

Length: 22 ft 5 in (6.90 m)

Wingspan: 30 ft 1 in (9.17 m)

Height: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)

Wing area: 134.25 sq ft (12.5 sq m)

Airfoil: NACA 2412

Empty weight: 1308 lb (593 kg)

Useful load: 552 lb (250 kg)

Loaded weight: 1860 lb (844 kg)

Max. takeoff weight: 1,860 lb (844 kg)

Powerplant: 1 × Kinner R-540, 160 hp (120 kW)

Performance

Never exceed speed: 190 mph (305 km/h)

Maximum speed: 125 mph (200 km/h)

Cruise speed: 100 mph (160 km/h)

Stall speed: 62 mph, flaps down; 64 mph, flaps up (100 km/h, flaps down; 103 km/h, flaps up)

Range: 231 miles @1560 RPM (371 km @1560 RPM)

Service ceiling: 15,400 ft (4,700 m)

Rate of climb: 710 fpm @ max TO weight (216 m/min @ max TO weight)

Wing loading: 13.6 lb/sq ft ()

Armament

none

Avionics

none