Consolidated Commodore

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_Commodore

The Consolidated Commodore was an American flying boat built by Consolidated
Aircraft and used for passenger travel in the 1930s, mostly in the Caribbean,
operated by companies like Pan American Airways.

A pioneer of the long-haul passenger aircraft industry, the Commodore "Clipper"
grew out of a Navy design competition in the 1920s to create an aircraft capable
of nonstop flights between the mainland of the United States and Panama, Alaska,
and the Hawaiian Islands. In response to these requirements, Consolidated
produced the prototype XPY-1 Admiral, designed by Isaac M. Laddon, in January
1929. Consolidated lost out on the contract to produce the airplanes for the
navy to the Glenn L. Martin Company. Martin produced one prototype XP2M and nine
production P3Ms. The aircraft represented a marked change from earlier patrol
boat designs such as the Curtiss NC.

In response to losing the Navy contract, Consolidated offered a
passenger-carrying version of the XPY-1, which became known as the Commodore. A
parasol wing monoplane with all-metal hull, it could accommodate 32 passengers
and a crew of three. The full complement of passengers, located in three cabins,
could be carried only on relatively short route segments. For a 1000-mile
flight, the boat probably could accommodate no more than 14 people including the
crew. Wing and tail construction consisted of a metal frame structure covered
with fabric, except for metal-covered leading edges. The Commodore had
significant changes from the XPY-1. These included more powerful engines,
fuselage shape and structural improvements.


Role
Commercial transport flying-boat

National origin
United States

Manufacturer
Consolidated Aircraft

First flight
September 28, 1928

Introduction
1930

Primary user
Pan American Airways

Number built
14

Variants
Consolidated P2Y

With a first flight in 1929, a total of 14 Commodore boats were built. Starting
February 18, 1930 Commodores were flown by the New York, Rio, Buenos Aires Line
from the United States to South America where routes extended as far south as
Buenos Aires, a distance of 9000 miles from Miami. One testimony to the
Commodore in Pan Am service was made by a Pan Am pilot, Marius Lodeesen who
wrote " . . . the good old Consolidated Commodore was the most reliable, trusty
air craft of the Pan American fleet during the early 1930s. . . . She was
hoisted aloft by two engines. They must have been Pratt and Whitneys because
they never gave any trouble. . . Waterlooping the Commodore was impossible.
Making a bad landing in her was hard work. She was the loveliest boat I ever
flew." As the 1930s progressed the Commodores were gradually superseded by more
efficient aircraft such as the Sikorsky S-42, Martin 130, and Boeing 314. A
number of them went on to serve with other operators. The Commodore may be
considered a first step in the United States along a road that was to lead to
the highly efficient monoplane-type patrol and transport flying boats later in
the 1930s. The XPY-1 and its civil counterpart, the Commodore, may be considered
progenitors in a series of flying boat developments that led to the famous
Consolidated PBY Catalina of World War II fame.

Variants
Model 16
Up to 18 passengers and three crew

Model 16-1
Up to 22 passengers and three crew

Model 16-2
Up to 30 passengers and three crew

Specifications (Commodore 16-1)

General characteristics
Crew: three
Capacity: 22 passengers
Length: 61 ft 6 in (18.75 m)
Wingspan: 100 ft in (30.48 m)
Height: 15 ft 8 in (4.78 m)
Wing area: 1,110 ft2 (103 m2)
Empty weight: 10,500 lb (4,760 kg)
Gross weight: 17,600 lb (7,980 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1860 Hornet B radial piston, 575 hp (429 kW)
each

Performance
Maximum speed: 128 mph (206 km/h)
Range: 1,000 miles (1,600 km)
Service ceiling: 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
Rate of climb: 600 ft/min (3 m/s)




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