United States' Consolidated PB2Y Coronado flying boat

Photos

Consolidated PB2Y Coronado flying boat:	Consolidated PB2Y Coronado flying boat: US Navy4	Consolidated PB2Y Coronado flying boat: Aeronautics Aircraft Spotters' Handbook4
Consolidated PB2Y Coronado flying boat:

Design

Shortly after the PBY Catalina became operational, the United States Navy started to look for its next flying boat.³ The PB2Y was intended to work alongside the PBY but the PBY turned out to be a more versatile aircraft.³

The Consolidated PB2Y Coronado won a 1935 United States Navy competition for a patrol bomber flying boat.² The competition had called for a four engine seaplane superior to the Catalina.³ Two aircraft builders were asked to design the plane, Sikorsky in June 1935 and Consolidated in July 1936.³ The Consolidated was eventually choosen.³

The wing floats retracted into the wingtips.^1,3

Prototype

The XPB2Y-1 first flew in September 17, 1937³ / December 1937, and it had a single tail fin.^1,2 Because of it's lateral instability it was changed into a twin fin.^1,3

Production

The first order was placed in March 1939 / March 31, 1939³ for six PB2Y-2s.^2,3 The last delivery was in October 1943.²

Expensive to Construct

For every PB2Y constructed, three PBY Catalinas could have been built.³

• Consolidated XPB2Y-1: 1²
• Consolidated PB2Y-2: 6^2,3
• Consolidated PB2Y-3: 210^2,3
  • Order placed November 19, 1940³
• Consolidated PB2Y-3B: 10²
• Total: 216³, 226¹, 227²
  • Manufacturer: Consolidated Aircraft Corporation³

Variants

• Consolidated XPB2Y-1: Prototype.^1,2 Had four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-72 Twin Wasp engines (1,050 HP).^2,3
• Consolidated PB2Y-2: First production model.² Had four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-78 Twin Wasp engines (1,200 HP) with two stage turbo chargers.² Entered service on December 31, 1940.^2,3 Hull was modified.³ There were six machine guns installed for defensive armament.³
• Consolidated PB2Y-3: Had self sealing fuel tanks and armor.^1,2,3 Had four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-88 engines.² Some had anti-submarine radar.³
• Consolidated PB2Y-3B / Consolidated Coronado Mk I: Ten were supplied to Great Britain.¹ Used primarily for hauling freight and passengers.^1,2
• Consolidated PB2Y-3R: Transport.^1,2,3 Could carry 44 passengers or 16,000 lb / 7,258 kg of freight.² Thirty one were converted.²
• Consolidated PB2Y-5: Had R-1830-92 engines.^1,2 Could carry more fuel.²
• Consolidated PB2Y-5H: Casualty evacuation that could carry 25 stretchers.^1,2,3
• Consolidated PB2Y-5R: Transport.³
• Consolidated PB4Y-2: Six were built.¹ Were operated by the US Navy VP-13 squadron.¹ Carried 5,443 kg of bombs.¹
• Consolidated PBY-3: 210 built and used in the Pacific.¹

Usage

Britain (10³) and the United States used the Coronado.²

British Use

The British used their Coronados primarily for transport between Britain and the United States.³

Specifications