User talk:Seajean65@icehouse.net

Consolidated's Similar Designs

Who hasn't marveled at the various aircraft leaving Reuben Fleet's factory at San Diego? The R3Y, PBY, PB2Y, B-24 and PB4Y were all sucessful production sized fleet aircraft. One has to wonder why the B-24's, PB2Y's and PB2Y's seemed to have more of the same designs than differences. Obviously they were brought to the drawing board by the same people but where do we draw the line between variations of the same aircraft? Since there were several four engined Consolidated aircraft in production at the same time being manufactured at different locations, it is difficult to answer, "Was the same wing used on the PB4Y and B-24?" "Did they place a boat hull onto a B-24 and call it a PB2Y?" Oh to be a fly on the wall of the Hotel Coronado where the engineers dined out. Most of the Consolidated staff of 1938 are no longer with us so we may never know some of the outcome. One thing is certain, Hitler was a threatening menace. The Japanese were the Lords of the Pacific and China. Only very efficient bombers, flying boats, and patrol planes could survive over enemy territory and these planes neede to be produced rapidly. These San Diego engineering marvels took the most efficient route and built several aircraft from the same basic design.