The Consolidated P-30 (PB-2) was a 1930s United States two-seat fighter aircraft. An attack version called the A-11 was also built, along with two Y1P-25 prototypes and YP-27, Y1P-28, and XP-33 proposals.
The PB-2A proved to be a sturdy aircraft, and there were relatively few fatal accidents. However, the retractable undercarriage of the PB-2A was a relatively new and unfamiliar innovation, and on numerous occasions pilots forgot to lower it before landing.
Although the PB-2A was not exactly one of the shining lights in American aviation history, it nevertheless did chalk up an impressive list of firsts. The PB-2A was the only single-engined two seat monoplane fighter to attain operational status with the USAAC during the inter-war year, it was the first fighter in service with the USAAC to have a fully retractable undercarriage, it was the first fighter with a constant speed propeller, and it was the first truly successful application of a supercharger to an operational military aircraft. However, the two-seat fighter design concept was outdated by the time it appeared. The idea of defending the fighter against attack from the rear by stationing a second crew member in the rear cockpit never gained much support. The penalties entailed in terms of lost speed and maneuverability caused by the added load seemed to be too high a price to pay for the addition of just one more gun. Consequently, the service life of the PB-2A was quite short.
Various modifications for RF7. Fly with the rate switch in the “high” position.
Has throttle, rudder, aileron, elevators, flaps, and retractable landing gear. A fairly decent flier.
The PB-2A proved to be a sturdy aircraft, and there were relatively few fatal accidents. However, the retractable undercarriage of the PB-2A was a relatively new and unfamiliar innovation, and on numerous occasions pilots forgot to lower it before landing.
Although the PB-2A was not exactly one of the shining lights in American aviation history, it nevertheless did chalk up an impressive list of firsts. The PB-2A was the only single-engined two seat monoplane fighter to attain operational status with the USAAC during the inter-war year, it was the first fighter in service with the USAAC to have a fully retractable undercarriage, it was the first fighter with a constant speed propeller, and it was the first truly successful application of a supercharger to an operational military aircraft. However, the two-seat fighter design concept was outdated by the time it appeared. The idea of defending the fighter against attack from the rear by stationing a second crew member in the rear cockpit never gained much support. The penalties entailed in terms of lost speed and maneuverability caused by the added load seemed to be too high a price to pay for the addition of just one more gun. Consequently, the service life of the PB-2A was quite short.
Various modifications for RF7. Fly with the rate switch in the “high” position.
Has throttle, rudder, aileron, elevators, flaps, and retractable landing gear. A fairly decent flier.
