The Berliner-Joyce Aircraft Corporation was established in February 1929 when it acquired the assets of the Berliner Aircraft Company. The new company had intended to develop the Berliner Monoplane but became involved in designing a two-seat fighter for the United States Army Air Corps. The prototype, designated the Berliner-Joyce XP-16 first flew in October 1929 (at this time in the United States, fighter aircraft were known as "pursuit planes", and were designated with a "P"; the "X" stands for "Experimental"). It had a metal structure with a fabric covering. It was a single-bay biplane of unequal span ("sesquiplane"), with the wings forward-staggered. The lower wing was smaller than the upper and was mounted at the base of the fuselage, and unusually, were of reverse-gullwing type, while the upper wing was of gull wing configuration. An observer/gunner was located behind the pilot. The aircraft was powered by a 600 hp (447 kW) Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror supercharged V-12inline engine. After evaluation by the USAAC two contracts were awarded for a total of 25 aircraft as YP-16s (the first 15 were considered preproduction, which were given a "Y" designation). The main difference with the production aircraft was the use of an unsupercharged version of the Conqueror engine, and a three-bladed propeller.
Operational historyedit
During 1931, the USAAC ordered the Berliner-Joyce YP-16 which had the distinction of being the last biplane fighter to enter service with the USAAC. In addition, the P-16 remained the only two-seat biplane fighter to be produced for the army after 1918.
Delivered in 1932 as the Y1P-16 primarily equipping the 94th Pursuit Squadron, the production aircraft were later re-designated PB-1 (Pursuit-Biplace, an awkward designation for a class of aircraft and only applied to one other type, the Consolidated P-30, later re-designated PB-2 & PB-2A.[1] Without the prototype's supercharger, performance at altitude was appreciably reduced although the aircraft had a greater endurance than contemporary single-seat pursuits.[1] Despite the gull-wing, pilots had poor visibility over the nose which contributed to service pilots having a propensity to nose-over on landing.
All Berliner-Joyce PB-1s were withdrawn from active service in 1934, although a small number of aircraft continued in second line duties until 1940.
Baugher, Joe. "Berliner-Joyce P-16/PB-1." American Military Aircraft, 7 June 1998. Retrieved: 10 June 2011.
Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force: From World War I Pursuits to the F-117. New York: Military Press, 1990. ISBN0-517-66994-3.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). London: Orbis Publishing, 1985.
Pelletier, Alain (May–June 1999). "Somersaulting Fighter: The Berliner-Joyce Y1P-16". Air Enthusiast (81): 44–49. ISSN 0143-5450.
Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes. New York: Doubleday and Company, 1968. ISBN0-385-04134-9.
Taylor, Michael J.H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989. ISBN0-517-69186-8.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Berliner-Joyce P-16.
Berliner-Joyce
"Pursuit Plane For Two Men Developed For The Army" Popular Mechanics, December 1932
May 07, 2024
berliner, joyce, 1930s, united, states, seat, fighter, aircraft, produced, berliner, joyce, aircraft, corporation, role, seat, fighter, manufacturer, berliner, joyce, aircraft, corporation, first, flight, september, 1930, introduction, 1932, retired, 1940, pri. The Berliner Joyce P 16 was a 1930s United States two seat fighter aircraft produced by Berliner Joyce Aircraft Corporation P 16 Role Two seat fighter Manufacturer Berliner Joyce Aircraft Corporation First flight 1 September 1930 Introduction 1932 Retired 1940 Primary user United States Army Air Corps Number built 26 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications P 16 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Citations 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development editThe Berliner Joyce Aircraft Corporation was established in February 1929 when it acquired the assets of the Berliner Aircraft Company The new company had intended to develop the Berliner Monoplane but became involved in designing a two seat fighter for the United States Army Air Corps The prototype designated the Berliner Joyce XP 16 first flew in October 1929 at this time in the United States fighter aircraft were known as pursuit planes and were designated with a P the X stands for Experimental It had a metal structure with a fabric covering It was a single bay biplane of unequal span sesquiplane with the wings forward staggered The lower wing was smaller than the upper and was mounted at the base of the fuselage and unusually were of reverse gullwing type while the upper wing was of gull wing configuration An observer gunner was located behind the pilot The aircraft was powered by a 600 hp 447 kW Curtiss V 1570 Conqueror supercharged V 12 inline engine After evaluation by the USAAC two contracts were awarded for a total of 25 aircraft as YP 16s the first 15 were considered preproduction which were given a Y designation The main difference with the production aircraft was the use of an unsupercharged version of the Conqueror engine and a three bladed propeller Operational history editDuring 1931 the USAAC ordered the Berliner Joyce YP 16 which had the distinction of being the last biplane fighter to enter service with the USAAC In addition the P 16 remained the only two seat biplane fighter to be produced for the army after 1918 Delivered in 1932 as the Y1P 16 primarily equipping the 94th Pursuit Squadron the production aircraft were later re designated PB 1 Pursuit Biplace an awkward designation for a class of aircraft and only applied to one other type the Consolidated P 30 later re designated PB 2 amp PB 2A 1 Without the prototype s supercharger performance at altitude was appreciably reduced although the aircraft had a greater endurance than contemporary single seat pursuits 1 Despite the gull wing pilots had poor visibility over the nose which contributed to service pilots having a propensity to nose over on landing All Berliner Joyce PB 1s were withdrawn from active service in 1934 although a small number of aircraft continued in second line duties until 1940 Variants editXP 16 Prototype with 600 hp Curtiss V 1570 25 engine one built Y1P 16 Production version became P 16 after evaluation 25 built P 16 In service designation of the 25 production aircraft re designated PB 1 in 1935 PB 1 Production aircraft re designated from P 16 in 1935 Operators edit nbsp United States United States Army Air CorpsSpecifications P 16 editGeneral characteristics Crew 2 Length 28 ft 2 in 8 59 m Wingspan 34 ft 0 in 10 36 m Height 10 ft 2 in 3 10 m Wing area 290 64 sq ft 27 m2 Empty weight 2 734 lb 1 240 kg Max takeoff weight 3 968 lb 1 800 kg Powerplant 1 Curtiss V 1570 25 Conqueror inline piston 600 hp 447 kW Performance Maximum speed 172 mph 282 km h 149 kn Range 650 mi 1 046 km 560 nmi Armament two fixed forward firing and one flexible mounted 0 3 in 7 62mm machine guns maximum bombload of 224 lb 102 kg See also editReferences editCitations edit a b Wagner 1968 pp 184 185 Bibliography edit Baugher Joe Berliner Joyce P 16 PB 1 American Military Aircraft 7 June 1998 Retrieved 10 June 2011 Dorr Robert F and David Donald Fighters of the United States Air Force From World War I Pursuits to the F 117 New York Military Press 1990 ISBN 0 517 66994 3 The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft Part Work 1982 1985 London Orbis Publishing 1985 Pelletier Alain May June 1999 Somersaulting Fighter The Berliner Joyce Y1P 16 Air Enthusiast 81 44 49 ISSN 0143 5450 Wagner Ray American Combat Planes New York Doubleday and Company 1968 ISBN 0 385 04134 9 Taylor Michael J H Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions 1989 ISBN 0 517 69186 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Berliner Joyce P 16 Berliner Joyce P 16 PB 1 Berliner Joyce Pursuit Plane For Two Men Developed For The Army Popular Mechanics December 1932 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Berliner Joyce P 16 amp oldid 1154226981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
