PT-22 Recruit

The Ryan PT-22 Recruit was a United States Army Air Corps training aircraft that was introduced in 1941 and built by Ryan Aeronautical Company of San Diego, California. Developed from the Ryan ST, a civilian sport and training aircraft built by the company in the early 1930’s, the PT-22 filled a valuable need for training aircraft in the United States military with the outbreak of the Second World War in December 1941. Production of the PT-22 continued until 1942 when a total of 1048 examples were built. Interestingly, the Netherlands East Indies (modern day Indonesia) had placed an order for 25 PT-22’s that were equipped with floats (a seaplane version) but were forced to cancel the order after the country was overrun by Imperial Japanese forces in May 1942.

Primary trainers, such as the PT-22 Recruit, were used in and represented the first of three stages in military flight training for pilots during WW ll. These stages of instruction consisted of primary, basic, and advanced training, with each stage using a different aircraft. Typically, primary training would take place in a PT-17, PT-19, PT-22, or PT-23 while basic instruction was performed in the BT-9, BT-13, BT-14 & BT-15, and lastly, advanced instruction often occurred in the AT-6, AT-9, or AT-10.

SPECIFICATIONS

Type                        Primary Trainer

Crew                         2

Wingspan                30 ft. 1 in.

Length                     22 ft. 5 in.

Height                      7 ft. 2 in.

Weight                    1,825lbs. gross

Power                       One 160 hp Kinner R-54 radial engine

Manufacturer         Ryan Aeronautical Company

PERFORMANCE

Maximum Speed                129 mph

Cruise Speed                       120 mph

Service Ceiling                   15,800 ft

Range                                    266 miles

Armament                          None