Engineering:St. Louis YPT-15

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Short description: US military trainer aircraft
YPT-15
Role Primary trainer
National origin United States
Manufacturer St. Louis Aircraft Corporation
Introduction 1940
Primary user United States Army Air Forces
Number built 14
Developed from St. Louis PT-1W

The St. Louis YPT-15 is an American two-seat primary training biplane, built by the St. Louis Aircraft Corporation for use by the United States Army Air Corps. 13 examples of the type were acquired, serving in the late 1930s.

Design and development

The PT-15 was a development of the "off-the-shelf" PT-1W for use by the U.S. Army Air Corps, ordered for stop-gap duty in the training of airmen in the build-up to World War II. The wings were fabric covered, but the fuselage was aluminum covered. A single Wright R-760 radial engine of 220 horsepower (160 kW) provided power.[1]

Operational history

One prototype PT-1 crashed at Wright field trials on 23 May 1936 bearing the serial number of an older design, the St. Louis PT-35[2] All thirteen examples of the YPT-15 were locally assigned (as PT-15s) to Parks College Civilian Pilot Training Program.[3][4] The PT-15 was the only St. Louis design ever acquired by the Army Air Corps.[1]

Variants

XPT-15 (St. Louis Model PT-1, and PT-1W replacement prototype)
One Model PT-1W obtained for evaluation with a 235 hp Wright Whirlwind R-760ET.[5]
YPT-15 (St. Louis Model PT-2)
13 pre-production aircraft with changes to instrumentation, 285hp Wright Whirlwind R-760E-1, and larger rudder. Later designated PT-15.[5]

There is at least one YPT-15 still in existence. It is located at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon and is maintained in airworthy condition.

Surviving aircraft

As of 2024, only a single YPT-15 has survived. The aircraft is maintained in airworthy condition by the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum under the registration N106SC.[6][7]

Specifications (PT-15)

Data from [8]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2 (instructor and student in tandem)
  • Length: 26 ft 5 in (8.05 m)
  • Wingspan: 33 ft 10 in (10.31 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 5 in (2.87 m)
  • Wing area: 279.9 sq ft (26.00 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,059 lb (934 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,766 lb (1,255 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-760-1 Whirlwind[5][9][10][N 1] 7-cylinder air cooled radial, 225 hp (168 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 130 mph (210 km/h, 110 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 116 mph (187 km/h, 101 kn) at 75% power
  • Range: 350 mi (560 km, 300 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5.1 m/s) initial

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

References

Notes
  1. ↑ Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1942 has the engine type as a 225 hp 7- cylinder Whirlwind R-460-ET but this type number appears to be an error; the other sources give the type used here
Citations
  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Waters 1985, p.50.
  2. ↑ David W Ostrowski. "The St. Louis Aircraft Company". Skyways: 54. 
  3. ↑ "The Aviation Enterprises of Oliver Parks". Gateway News. November 1990. 
  4. ↑ "Accident Report Parks Air College". http://www.accident-report.com/world/namerica/slist/parksaircollege.html. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. p. 158. ISBN 0-904597-22-9. 
  6. ↑ "WAAAM’s celebration of living history gains national recognition" (in en). 2024-08-28. https://www.columbiagorgenews.com/news/waaam-s-celebration-of-living-history-gains-national-recognition/article_93cfcca4-656b-11ef-8426-033cfb8bdde1.html. 
  7. ↑ "N-Number Inquiry Results: N106SC". https://registry.faa.gov/AircraftInquiry/Search/NNumberResult?nNumberTxt=106SC. 
  8. ↑ Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1942 page 215c
  9. ↑ Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft
  10. ↑ Fahey page 36
Bibliography
  • Fahey, James C (1946). US Army Aircraft. New York: Ships & Aircraft Ltd. 
  • Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft, Aerospace Publishing/Orbis Publishing
  • Bridgman, Leonard (1942). Jane's All the World's Aircraft 1942. London: Sampson Low, Marston & Co. 
  • Waters, Andrew W. (1985). All the U.S. Air Force Airplanes, 1907-1983. New York: Hippocrene Books. ISBN 978-0870520310. 



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