Consolidated "No. 31" XP4Y "Corregidor"
Model Airplane News Cover Art for September, 1939
by Jo Kotula
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The Consolidated XP4Y (company Model 31) was an American twin-engined long-range maritime patrol flying boat built by Consolidated Aircraft for the United States Navy. Only one was built and a production order for 200 was cancelled.

The aircraft was of all-metal construction with a high-mounted, high aspect ratio cantilever monoplane wing (the Davis wing, which was later used in the B-24 Liberator) with twin tail. It had retractable floats on the undersides of the wings. The civil version could carry seats for 52 passengers, or sleeper accommodation for 28.

     

Consolidated "No. 31" XP4Y "Corregidor"
Davis Wing Patent No. 2,281,272
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The prototype Model 31 first flew in 1939. The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 brought America into the Second World War just as testing was complete and the United States Navy purchased the prototype, designated XP4Y-1, which was converted into a prototype patrol aircraft, fitted with nose, tail and dorsal gun turrets and 4,000 lb bomb capacity.

200 P4Y-1 were to be constructed in a new aircraft plant which had been built in New Orleans. Delays in preparation of the prototype and the shortage of Wright Duplex Cyclone engines (which were required to power the B-29 Superfortress) led to the production order being cancelled. The factory was then assigned to build the PBY ("Catalina") that did not require the scarce engine.

Here is a video of the Consolidated "Coronado", the large scale flying boat that evolved out of the "Corregidor" in action:

Click Here for more information about the Consolidated "No. 31" XP4Y "Corregidor".

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