The PT-22's fuselage is a simple monocoque structure, with thick gauge alclad skin. The wings feature sprucespars, aluminum alloy ribs, steel compression members, with aircraft fabric covering aft to the trailing edge and aluminum alloy sheet covering from the leading edge to the spar. The wings have 4° 10' of sweep back, 3° of incidence and 4° 30' dihedral. The PT-22 fuel system consists of a single tank mounted forward of the front cockpit. Fuel is gravity fed to the carburetor. The oil system is a dry-sump type, with all oil stored in a tank located on the front side of the firewall in the upper section of the fuselage. The wing flaps are mechanically operated from a lever located on the left side of each cockpit. Adjustable elevator trim is provided via an elevator trim tab controllable from a handwheel mounted on the left side of each cockpit. In its original configuration, the aircraft was not equipped with an electrical system. Hydraulic brakes are provided for each wheel, controllable via the rudder pedals in each cockpit. In order to simplify maintenance, the wheel spats and landing gear fairings were deleted in the production examples
Operational history
The PT-22 was developed in 1941 from the civilian Ryan ST series. The earlier PT-20 and PT-21 were the military production versions of the Ryan ST-3 with a total of 100 built. The PT-22 was the United States Army Air Corps' first purpose built monoplane trainer. The rapid expansion of wartime aircrew training required new trainers, and the Ryan PT-22 was ordered in large numbers. Named the "Recruit", it entered operational service with the U.S. Orders also were placed by the Netherlands, but were never realized as the nation capitulated to Axis forces. The small order of 25 ST-3s was redirected to the United States and redesignated as the PT-22A. Another order also came from the U.S. Navy for 100 examples. The PT series was in heavy use throughout the war years with both military and civil schools, but with the end of the war, was retired from the USAAF. The Ryan PT-22 remains a popular World War II collector aircraft.
Variants
;PT-22:Military version of the Model ST.3KR powered by a 160 hp R-540-1, 1,023 built. ;PT-22A:Model ST-3S twin-float seaplanes ordered by the Netherlands Navy powered by 160 hp Menasco D4B, ordered cancelled and completed for the United States Army Air Corps with 160 hp R-540-1 engines, 25 built. ;PT-22B:Unbuilt project. ;PT-22C:PT-22s re-engined with the 160 hp R-540-3, 250 conversions.
41-1964 - PT-22 : The plane was the victim of an accident on Sunday February 23, 2020 in the town of Beaulieu in France. The pilot and his passengers both died in the crash. An investigation was requested by French justice and entrusted to the BEA and the Gendarmerie des Transports Aériens.
