Consolidated Aircraft
Encyclopedia
The Consolidated Aircraft Corporation was founded in 1923
by Reuben H. Fleet
, the result of the Gallaudet Aircraft Company's liquidation and Fleet's purchase of designs from the Dayton-Wright Company
as the subsidiary was being closed by its parent corporation, General Motors
. Consolidated became famous during the 1920s and 1930s for its line of flying boat
s. The most successful of the Consolidated patrol boats was the PBY Catalina
, which was produced throughout World War II
and used extensively by the Allies. Equally famous is the B-24 Liberator
, a heavy bomber which, like the Catalina, saw action in both the Pacific
and European
theaters.
Consolidated's first design was one of those purchased by Fleet from Dayton-Wright, the TW-3 primary trainer, sold to the U.S. Army and designated the PT-1 Trusty
. In September 1924 the company moved from the Gallaudet plant in Connecticut to new facilities in Buffalo, New York
, and within a year won a contract from the U.S. Navy for a naval version of the PT-1 designated the NY-1
.
In September 1935 Consolidated moved across the country to its new "Building 1", a 247000 square feet (22,947.1 m²) continuous flow factory in San Diego, California
. The first production PBY Catalina
was launched in San Diego Bay in 1936, and the first XPB2Y-1 Coronado test aircraft made its first flight in 1937. The XB-24 Liberator
prototype made its first flight in December 1939, and the first production order was from the French in 1940 just days before their surrender to Germany, six of these YB-24 Liberators
were designated LB-30A and ferried to Britain.
In November 1941 Fleet sold his 34.26% interest in Consolidated for $10.9 million to Victor Emanuel the president of AVCO
with the idea that Consolidated would be merged with AVCO's Vultee subsidiary.
In 1943
, Consolidated merged with Vultee Aircraft
to form Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft or Convair
. General Dynamics
purchased a majority interest in Convair in March 1953, where it continued to produce aircraft or aircraft components until being sold to McDonnell Douglas
in 1994. McDonnell Douglas shut down the division after just two years of operations in 1996.
Consolidated Aircraft and later Convair had their headquarters situated in San Diego, California on the border of Lindbergh Field (KSAN).
1923 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1923:- Events :* The Gallaudet Aircraft Corporation is absorbed by the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation.-January:...
by Reuben H. Fleet
Reuben H. Fleet
Reuben Hollis Fleet was an American aviation pioneer, industrialist and army officer. Fleet founded and led several corporations, most notably Consolidated Aircraft.-Birth and early career:...
, the result of the Gallaudet Aircraft Company's liquidation and Fleet's purchase of designs from the Dayton-Wright Company
Dayton-Wright Company
The Dayton-Wright Company was formed in 1917, on the declaration of war between the United States and Germany, by a group of Ohio investors that included Charles F. Kettering and Edward A. Deeds of Dayton Engineering Laboratories Company...
as the subsidiary was being closed by its parent corporation, General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
. Consolidated became famous during the 1920s and 1930s for its line of flying boat
Flying boat
A flying boat is a fixed-winged seaplane with a hull, allowing it to land on water. It differs from a float plane as it uses a purpose-designed fuselage which can float, granting the aircraft buoyancy. Flying boats may be stabilized by under-wing floats or by wing-like projections from the fuselage...
s. The most successful of the Consolidated patrol boats was the PBY Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
, which was produced throughout World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and used extensively by the Allies. Equally famous is the B-24 Liberator
B-24 Liberator
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
, a heavy bomber which, like the Catalina, saw action in both the Pacific
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
and European
European Theater of Operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army was a United States Army formation which directed U.S. Army operations in parts of Europe from 1942 to 1945. It referred to Army Ground Forces, United States Army Air Forces, and Army Service Forces operations north of Italy and the...
theaters.
Consolidated's first design was one of those purchased by Fleet from Dayton-Wright, the TW-3 primary trainer, sold to the U.S. Army and designated the PT-1 Trusty
Consolidated PT-1
The Consolidated PT-1 Trusty was a biplane primary trainer used by the United States Army Air Service.-Design and development:...
. In September 1924 the company moved from the Gallaudet plant in Connecticut to new facilities in Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
, and within a year won a contract from the U.S. Navy for a naval version of the PT-1 designated the NY-1
Consolidated PT-3
-References:...
.
In September 1935 Consolidated moved across the country to its new "Building 1", a 247000 square feet (22,947.1 m²) continuous flow factory in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
. The first production PBY Catalina
PBY Catalina
The Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
was launched in San Diego Bay in 1936, and the first XPB2Y-1 Coronado test aircraft made its first flight in 1937. The XB-24 Liberator
Preproduction B-24
The Consolidated Preproduction B-24 aircraft began in the fall of 1938 when the United States Army Air Corps approached Consolidated Aircraft Corporation with the intent of starting a second Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress production line. The president of Consolidated Aircraft, Reuben H. Fleet, as...
prototype made its first flight in December 1939, and the first production order was from the French in 1940 just days before their surrender to Germany, six of these YB-24 Liberators
Preproduction B-24
The Consolidated Preproduction B-24 aircraft began in the fall of 1938 when the United States Army Air Corps approached Consolidated Aircraft Corporation with the intent of starting a second Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress production line. The president of Consolidated Aircraft, Reuben H. Fleet, as...
were designated LB-30A and ferried to Britain.
In November 1941 Fleet sold his 34.26% interest in Consolidated for $10.9 million to Victor Emanuel the president of AVCO
Avco
Avco Corporation is a subsidiary of Textron which operates Textron Systems Corporation and Lycoming.-Brief history:The Embry-Riddle Company created the Aviation Corporation in 1928 as a holding company tasked with acquiring small airlines...
with the idea that Consolidated would be merged with AVCO's Vultee subsidiary.
In 1943
1943 in aviation
This is a list of aviation-related events from 1943:-Events:* Watanabe Iron Works transfers its aircraft manufacturing business to a new subsidiary, the Kyushu Airplane Company Ltd.-January:...
, Consolidated merged with Vultee Aircraft
Vultee Aircraft
The Vultee Aircraft Corporation became an independent company in 1939 and had limited success before merging with the Consolidated Aircraft Corporation in 1943 to form the Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation, or Convair.-History:...
to form Consolidated-Vultee Aircraft or Convair
Convair
Convair was an American aircraft manufacturing company which later expanded into rockets and spacecraft. The company was formed in 1943 by the merger of Vultee Aircraft and Consolidated Aircraft, and went on to produce a number of pioneering aircraft, such as the Convair B-36 bomber, and the F-102...
. General Dynamics
General Dynamics
General Dynamics Corporation is a U.S. defense conglomerate formed by mergers and divestitures, and as of 2008 it is the fifth largest defense contractor in the world. Its headquarters are in West Falls Church , unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Falls Church area.The company has...
purchased a majority interest in Convair in March 1953, where it continued to produce aircraft or aircraft components until being sold to McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas
McDonnell Douglas was a major American aerospace manufacturer and defense contractor, producing a number of famous commercial and military aircraft. It formed from a merger of McDonnell Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft in 1967. McDonnell Douglas was based at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport...
in 1994. McDonnell Douglas shut down the division after just two years of operations in 1996.
Consolidated Aircraft and later Convair had their headquarters situated in San Diego, California on the border of Lindbergh Field (KSAN).
Aircraft
Consolidated aircraft (dates are of first flights):- PT-1Consolidated PT-1The Consolidated PT-1 Trusty was a biplane primary trainer used by the United States Army Air Service.-Design and development:...
Trusty (1923) - NY-1Consolidated PT-3-References:...
trainer - XPY-1 Admiral flying boat (1928)
- Consolidated Commodore (1931)
- C-22 Fleetster(1932)
- Consolidated A-11/Y1P-25
- Consolidated P2YConsolidated P2Y-Bibliography:*Donald, David. The Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.*Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1....
- PBY CatalinaPBY CatalinaThe Consolidated PBY Catalina was an American flying boat of the 1930s and 1940s produced by Consolidated Aircraft. It was one of the most widely used multi-role aircraft of World War II. PBYs served with every branch of the United States Armed Forces and in the air forces and navies of many other...
(1936) - PB2Y CoronadoPB2Y Coronado|-See also:-Bibliography:* Andrews, Hal. "" Naval Aviation News, Vol. 72, Issue no. 1, November-December 1989. ISSN 0028-1417.* Bridgeman, Leonard. “The Consolidated Vultee Model 29 Coronado.” Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.* Green, William. War...
(1937) - PB3YConsolidated PB3Y-See also:-External links:*...
not built - XP4Y-1 Corregidor or "Model 31" (1939)
- B-24 LiberatorB-24 LiberatorThe Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and a small number of early models were sold under the name LB-30, for Land Bomber...
(1939)- PB4Y-1 Liberator US Navy
- C-87 Liberator ExpressC-87 Liberator Express|-References:NotesBibliography* Andrade, John. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Hinckley, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9....
- C-109 Liberator
- PB4Y-2 PrivateerPB4Y PrivateerThe Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer was a World War II and Korean War era patrol bomber of the United States Navy derived from the Consolidated B-24 Liberator. The Navy had been using unmodified B-24s as the PB4Y-1 Liberator, and the type was considered very successful...
(1944)
- TBY Sea WolfTBY Sea Wolf|-See also:-References:NotesBibliography* Ginter, Steve, Bill Chana and Phil Prophett. Vought XTBU-1 & TBY-2 Sea Wolf . Simi Valley, CA: Ginter Books, 1995 . ISBN 0-942612-33-7.-External links:***...
(1941) - B-32 DominatorB-32 DominatorThe Consolidated B-32 Dominator was a heavy bomber made for United States Army Air Forces during World War II, and has the distinction of being the last Allied aircraft to be engaged in combat during World War II. It was developed in parallel with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress as a fallback design...
(1942)