Consolidated P-30

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. Its performance was impressive, 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 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 247 miles per hour (398 km/h) at 15,000 feet (4,600 m), 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 400 lb (182 kg) 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]

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 39,300 feet (12,000 m) 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 217.5 miles per hour (350.0 km/h).[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. 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 1,000 hp (746 kW) 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]

Y1P-25

Further development of Lockheed YP-24 with all-metal wing, 600 horsepower (450 kW) 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 4x forward firing .30 in guns in nose, one in rear cockpit and up to 400 lb (182 kg) of bombs. One built.[3][7]

YP-27

Proposed variant of Y1P-25 with 550 horsepower (410 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-21G Wasp radial engine. Unbuilt.[18]

Y1P-28

Proposed variant of Y1P-25 with 600 hp R-1340-19 Wasp; unbuilt.[18]

P-30

Initial production batch for Army Air Corps. 675 horsepower (503 kW) Curtiss V-1570-57 turbo-supercharged engine. Four built, later redesignated PB-2.[3][15]

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 700 horsepower (520 kW) turbo-supercharged Curtiss V-1570-61 engine; 50 built, redesignated PB-2A.[15]

The PB-2A Special

PB-2A Special

Seventh PB-2A modified to single-seat configuration. Crashed during flight testing.

XP-33

Proposed version with 800 horsepower (600 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1830-1 Twin Wasp engine; unbuilt.[15]

XA-11A

Conversion of A-11 as testbed for 1,000 horsepower (750 kW) Allison XV-1710-7. One converted.[13]

Data from Singular Two-Seater[11]

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Length: 30 ft 0 in (9.14 m)
• Wingspan: 43 ft 11 in (13.38 m)
• Height: 8 ft 3 in (2.51 m)
• Wing area: 297 sq ft (27.6 m²)
• Empty weight: 4,306 lb (1,950 kg)
• Gross weight: 5,623 lb (2,556 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss V-1570-61 Conqueror liquid-cooled V12 engine, 700 hp (520 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 275 mph (443 km/h, 239 kn) at 25,000 ft (7,620 m)[15]
• Cruise speed: 215 mph (346 km/h, 187 kn) at 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
• Range: 508 mi (818 km, 442 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,530 m)
• Climb to 15,000 ft (4,600 m): 7 min 48 s

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 2 x 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns firing through the propeller
  • 1 x 0.30 in machine gun in the rear cockpit
• Bombs: 170 lb (80 kg) bombs

Related development

• Lockheed YP-24

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Fairey Battle

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States

Notes

Bibliography

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Consolidated P-30.

• Consolidated P-30/PB-2A
• National Museum of the USAF fact sheet: Consolidated P-30