Keystone PK-1
Keystone Aircraft · United States · first flew 1930 · transport aircraft
The Keystone PK-1 is a twin-engine biplane patrol flying boat built by the Keystone Aircraft Corporation for the US Navy, one of several manufacturers contracted to produce patrol boats to broadly similar specifications in the late 1920s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 15.85 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Twin fin |
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Spot it by:
- Twin-engine biplane patrol flying boat by Keystone
- Competing design alongside NAF and Martin PN/PM series
- Open cockpit late-1920s US Navy patrol boat
Broadly similar in silhouette to the PN and PM series biplane patrol boats; distinguished primarily by minor structural details and the Keystone-typical strut arrangement.
Specifications
- The Keystone PK-1 has a length of 15.85 m (52 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.16 m (76 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 185 km/h (115 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Keystone, primarily known for its Army Air Corps biplane bombers, produced the PK-1 to a US Navy patrol requirement in the early 1930s. The aircraft competed with NAF and Martin designs for service contracts but was produced in limited numbers.
Variants
The PK-1 does not appear to have had significant production variants; Keystone's patrol flying boat work remained limited compared to their bomber production.
Where you'll see it
Served in small numbers with US Navy patrol units in the early 1930s before monoplane types superseded biplane patrol boats.
Related aircraft
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