Consolidated PB2Y-3 Coronado — Pilot's Handbook & Erection and Maintenance Instructions
Two original primary-source documents issued by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation, San Diego, California, covering the U.S. Navy's heavy four-engine patrol flying boat in its definitive PB2Y-3 production configuration. Both documents are dated June and August 1942 respectively and carry C.A.C. Report designations ZE-29-007 and ZE-29-008.
Documents Included in This Collection
1. Pilot's Handbook — U.S. Navy PB2Y-3 Airplane
C.A.C. Report No. ZE-29-007 · June 1942 · Restricted
The factory-issued pilot's handbook covering normal and emergency procedures, systems operation, and performance data for the PB2Y-3. Includes the original classified-data locker notice (Class “C” stowage, Article 112 of R.P.S.-6). Two original copies are preserved in this archive — serial aircraft numbers 61 and 66 — providing a rare dual-copy provenance record.
2. Erection and Maintenance Instructions — Model PB2Y-3 Flying Boat
C.A.C. Report No. ZE-29-008 · August 1942 · Restricted · Contract No. 78903
The factory maintenance manual released by the Bureau of Aeronautics, Navy Department. Covers erection procedures, systems maintenance, and structural servicing for the PB2Y-3. Original copy bears Inspection Department (HNL) annotation, confirming fleet-level provenance.
Aircraft Technical Profile
The Consolidated PB2Y-3 Coronado was the primary production variant of the Model 29 heavy patrol flying boat, powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1830-88 Twin Wasp 14-cylinder two-stage supercharged radial engines rated at 1,200 hp each. Key engineering features documented in this archive include:
- Retractable wingtip floats — mechanically retracted flush into the outer wing panels to eliminate parasite drag in cruise, directly derived from PBY Catalina engineering parameters.
- Twin-tail dihedral empennage — dual oval fin configuration introduced from the PB2Y-2 onward to resolve the directional instability of the original single-fin XPB2Y-1 prototype.
- Asymmetric propeller array — four-bladed reversible-pitch propellers on inboard engines (Nos. 2 & 3) for precise water-maneuvering thrust control; three-bladed feathering propellers on outboard engines.
- JATO provisions — solid rocket cluster attachment points along the hull sides for heavy-load water takeoff operations.
Performance Data (PB2Y-3)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 66,000–68,000 lbs
- Maximum Airspeed: 213–223 mph at ~20,000 ft
- Cruising Airspeed: 142 mph (clean configuration)
- Rate of Climb: 570 ft/min at sea level
- Combat Patrol Range: 1,380 miles (8,000 lb bomb load)
- Ferry Range: 3,107 miles
Provenance & Archival Notes
Both documents are original wartime-restricted publications. The Pilot's Handbook is preserved in two distinct aircraft copies (serials 61 and 66), offering a unique comparative provenance record. The Maintenance Manual carries a handwritten Inspection Department annotation referencing HNL (Naval Air Station Honolulu), placing this copy in the Pacific theater operational chain.
This is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorized distributor.
⚠️ Regulatory Notice: Under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13 and EASA Part-M, any mechanic performing maintenance on an active aircraft must use current, manufacturer-approved revision-controlled data. This archival document does not satisfy that requirement.
Living Collections with Free Lifetime Updates – Please review our Legal Notice and Export Notice before purchasing.