Cable Airshow 2012
Ryan PT-22 Recruit

The Ryan PT-22 Recruit began as a design for a sport trainer in the civilian sector. It evolved into the PT-22 Recruit. The PT-22 was the first monoplane trainer for the US Army. One of the distinctive features of the PT-22 is the Kinner five-cylinder radial engine that has a very unique sound. That sound would later earn them the nickname "Maytag Messershmitts". The US Navy also flew them and dubbed them the NR-1. The Netherlands called them the NR-3. Over 1,200 of them were made during WWII. Today, about 80 are still flying. There were three PT-22s at the show this year. Two of them are based at the Cable Airport, one is based at the Camarillo Airport.