Ryan PT-22 Paint Schemes

[Speeddemon651]

Was there any rhyme or reason to why some Ryan's have red or yellow engine cowling ? Same goes for propellers. They were all negative electric so I'm curious if what was the reason for the different paint schemes. I've also seen pitot tube candy striped before, would that have been training base specific ?

Thanks in advance, JH

[Cubs2jets]

JH,

I know what you mean on contemporary PT-22's but after looking at C.R.A.P., I don't see any particular indication that it was typical to paint the forward cowling / spinner. https://www.flickr.com/photos/133697406 ... 867260185/

There ARE a few original color pictures from the 1940's of PT-22's, but if you are looking at anything contemporary, I'd say they are suspect.

C2j

[Speeddemon651]

Thanks for the reply,
My PT-22 was owned by a WWII vet that owned it for 40+ years and it's quite colorful. I'm just curious if it was an original scheme.



Anyone one by any chance have a spare lifting eye ? The one that stowed in the baggage compartment ?

[JohnB]

I can't say I've never noticed a pattern, then again I haven't been looking.

[AirHead]

Hello JH,

You have inadvertently answered a question that came up at our Oshkosh campsite: "I wonder who is the proud new owner of Mike Wilson's PT-22?"

Mike and his gorgeous Ryan made up a very large portion of a very small Warbirds community here in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

I am attaching a picture of my one and only Warbirds ride from the front cockpit of your Ryan. It is of dubious quality taken some 30+ years ago on a rainy day at the Blakesburg Fly-In and I simply squared my instamatic behind my head and snapped the picture. You can make out Mike's big grin.

It was one of two times that I had the chance to fly with Mike, the second time in Mike's Bonzana. Having been a flight instructor in WW II, Mike talked us through everything he was doing as he took off, set up his approach and landed. We talked about his PT-22 and, in that day and age before the Internet, my mom asked him what sort of resources were available to him to help him maintain a PT-22. His reply was simple and direct: "I AM the resource on PT-22's!"

I can't answer your question about nose colors but I will add during the time period that USAAC birds wore the red and white rudder stripes the insignias on the wings would have carried the center red dot. As we know, regulations aren't always followed and there are numerous documented examples of birds wearing a variety of markings during times of cross over. I do not wish to imply the markings are "wrong" by any means. As for your missing lifting eye, you might contact the folks at Blakesburg.

http://www.antiqueairfield.com/articles ... onated-apm

Glad to know his lovingly cared-for bird is in good hands and am curious to know where you and it are presently located? Hope to meet up with you both some day.



- David Rezabek: Long time lurker, compelled first time poster