Talk:St. Louis YPT-15

Maximum speed

164 mph sounds a bit quick; certainly Fahey (US Army aircraft 1908-46 (pub 1946)) gives 124 mph, as does the well regarded Aerofiles, the latter for the PT-15. Jane's AWA 1942 has an entry for the PT-1 ("USAAF PT-15") with specs including max speed 130 mph.TSRL (talk) 08:49, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

There are some other serious conflicts between our numbers and those two sources quoted above. They both have the aircraft much shorter, though they don't agree: 26' 5" and 25' 0". Also the weights given are much lighter: Fahey and JAWA agree on a loaded/gross weight of 2,766 lbs, not our 6,000 lbs. Since, as we say, 6000 lbs = 2,722 kg, it could be that our current source has swapped units somewhere. Anyway, I don't think we can trust these numbers. One way would to be to use the set from Jane's, though noting they are for the PT-1, unmilitarised aircraft. This is not ideal, though the changes for an unarmed primary trainer are not going to be large (Fahey has the gross weight of the YPT at 2,770 lbs, only 4 lbs up), but the current figures seem to be seriously astray.TSRL (talk) 09:21, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

Well, the specs I used were from the "Dave's Warbirds" site - except for the engine. It gives two different options at 450hp, but the other sites I checked when using the article specified the R-760. I'll check the dead-tree encyclopedias at the library when it opens again Tuesday, and see what I can find. Although, yeah, those numbers do seem a little on the high/large side for a primary trainer, don't they? - The Bushranger (talk) 18:01, 27 March 2010 (UTC)

I'm pretty sure that what we have here, pre engine change, are the specs for the Vought OS2U Kingfisher. There is a typo in the imperial value of the YPT length (33' 1" instead of 33' 10"; metric OK); everything else seems to agree. The Kingfisher had a R-985 of 450 hp. The floatplane configuration of the Kingfisher explains the surprising height. Moral seems to be to approach "Dave's Warbirds" cautiously.TSRL (talk) 10:55, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

Indeed. I'll zap the specs until we can find better ones. - The Bushranger (talk) 20:54, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

Just taken the opportunity to change to the latest spec template while it is empty! MilborneOne (talk) 21:17, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft doesnt have the full specs but has 33ft 10in (10.31m) span and max speed of 124 mph (200km/h). MilborneOne (talk) 21:24, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

Cool, at least we know those! - The Bushranger (talk) 21:39, 29 March 2010 (UTC)

I've added JAWA's specs (slightly different top speed, but a complete set). Currently fretting about what JAWA call a Wright Whirlwind R-460-ET; I'd have guessed R-760 was right.TSRL (talk) 19:11, 8 April 2010 (UTC) In the engine section of the same JAWA, they have R760ET. a 235 hp Whirlwind. So maybe a typo?TSRL (talk) 19:13, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

i've assumed for now it is a R-760, but added a note.TSRL (talk) 20:06, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft says a 225hp Wright R-760-1 Whirlwind radial and US Military aircraft and designations has a 225hp R-760-1. MilborneOne (talk) 21:09, 8 April 2010 (UTC)

Incorporated.TSRL (talk) 08:34, 9 April 2010 (UTC)