Consolidated Y1P-25

Consolidated Aircraft · United States · first flew 1932 · fighter

The Consolidated Y1P-25 was an experimental two-seat pursuit aircraft developed for the US Army Air Corps in the early 1930s, representing an attempt to combine high speed with a rear gunner for self-defence. It led to the P-30 production series.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	8.94 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

Early 1930s US Army low-wing monoplane pursuit
Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror liquid-cooled V-12 engine
Two-seat configuration with gunner position

A sleek early-1930s low-wing monoplane with an enclosed cockpit for the pilot and an open rear gunner position, a long liquid-cooled engine nose, and retractable undercarriage.

Specifications

The Consolidated Y1P-25 has a length of 8.94 m (29 ft).
It has a wingspan of 13.36 m (44 ft).
Its maximum speed is 319 km/h (198 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Consolidated developed the XP-25 and then the Y1P-25 with a turbosupercharged Curtiss Conqueror engine in a cleanly cowled installation, achieving impressive performance for its time. The two-seat layout was intended to allow the aircraft to fight its way to targets independently, but the concept proved impractical.

Variants

The Y1P-25 was followed by the P-30 and P-30A production variants; the family represented one of the last American attempts at a two-seat pursuit aircraft before the single-seat concept became dominant.

Where you'll see it

A small number of Y1P-25s served with the US Army Air Corps in an evaluation role; the type never achieved widespread service but informed later Consolidated designs.

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