Wings Over Camarillo 2009
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.