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The Consolidated PT-6 was a training aircraft based on the Fleet 2 civilian biplane.
The Fleet had originally been developed as the Consolidated Model 14 in 1928, with the support of Reuben Fleet, the founder of Consolidated. It was a scaled down version of the PT/ NY family of military trainers, meant for the civilian market. The original aircraft was powered by a 100hp Warner Scarab seven cylinder radial engine, had a steel tube structure with a fabric covering and staggered biplane wings. The upper wing was level and the lower wing had slight dihedral. Fleet's fellow directors weren't convinced about the potential of the Model 14, and so he founded a new company, Fleet Aircraft, in February 1929 and built the aircraft as the Husky. After six months it was a clear success, and the new company was sold to Consolidated. The Husky then became the Consolidated Fleet.
The US Army purchased sixteen Fleet 2s, which were powered by a Kinner K-5 five cylinder engine. The first army aircraft, the XPT-6, was delivered in 1930. The next ten were delivered as the YPT-6. The final five had larger cockpits and a redesigned cowling. They were delivered as YPT-6As and later became the PT-6A.
The PT-6 was significantly smaller than the contemporary PT-3. It was nearly 900lb lighter when loaded, its wingspan was 6ft 5.5in narrower and it was nearly 6ft 11.5in shorter. It was also 8mph faster despite having about half the engine power.
Engine: Kinner K-5 five cylinder engine
Power: c.110hp
Crew: 2
Span: 28ft 0in
Length: 20ft 9in
Height: 7ft 10in
Empty Weight: 1,023lb
Gross Weight: 1,575lb
Maximum Speed: 113.5mph
Cruising Speed: 88mph
Climb rate: 730ft/ min
Ceiling: 12,200ft