Hall PH

infobox Aircraft
name = PH
type = Patrol Flying Boat
manufacturer = Hall Aluminium Aircraft Corporation



caption = Hall PH-3
designer =
first flight = 1929
introduced =
introduction= 1931
retired = 1944
status =
primary user = United States Coast Guard
more users = United States Navy
produced =
number built = 24
unit cost = $170,000 (PH-3) [http://www.uscg.mil/history/WEBAIRCRAFT/AC_Hall_PH2.html Hall PH] United States Coast Guard. Retrieved 13 March 2008.]
developed from = Naval Aircraft Factory PN
variants with their own articles = The Hall PH was an American flying boat of the 1930s. A twin engined biplane which developed from the Naval Aircraft Factory PN and could hence trace its lineage back to the Felixstowe flying boats of the First World War, the PH was purchased in small numbers by the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard. It remained in service with the Coast Guard until 1944, being used for anti submarine and search and rescue duties.

Development and design

In December 1927, the U.S. Navy placed a contract with the Hall Aluminium Aircraft Corporation of Bristol, Pennsylvania for a developed version of the Naval Aircraft Factory PN-11, Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p.254.] which itself could trace a development history back to the Felixstowe F.5 flying boat of the First World War. Donald 1995, p. 186.] The resultant prototype, the XPH-1, first flew in December 1929. Green 1962, p.175.]

The XPH-1 had identical wings and a similar metal hull to that of the PN-11, but was fitted with a large single fin and rudder. It was powered by two Wright Cyclone radial engines and accommodated its two pilots side by side in an open cockpit, with cockpits for gunners in the nose and behind the wings.

In 1930, Hall received an order for nine production aircraft from the U.S Navy, designated the PH-1, which were fitted with more powerful engines and a primitive, partly enclosed cockpit for the pilots. Roberts 2000, p.677.] Orders for the U.S Coast Guard eventually followed, with seven PH-2s (similar to the PH-1, but with armament removed, and seven PH-3s (with armament re-instated and a more refined, fully enclosed cockpit for the pilots).

Operational history

Delivery of the PH-1 commenced in October 1931, equipping VP-8 from 1932, operating from the seaplane tender USS "Wright" and from bases at Pearl Harbor, Midway and the Panama Canal Zone. It was replaced by the Consolidated PBY-1 in 1937. Roberts 2000, p.116.]

Production of the PH recommenced in June 1936 to meet an order for seven PH-2s for the US Coast Guard. These entered service from 1938, being the largest aircraft operated by the Coast Guard at that time. The Coast Guard ordered a further seven of an improved version, the PH-3 in 1939, these entering service in 1941.

The Hall flying boats were used by the Coast Guard for search and rescue duties and were fitted with specialised equipment to aid them in this role. Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour and the United States entry into World War II, the remaining PHs were painted in U.S Navy Grey Green colours to replace the previous bare metal finish, armed, and used for anti-submarine patrols (particularly during the Operation Drumbeat U-boat attacks off the East coast of the United States in 1942) as well as continuing search and rescue operations. The Coast Guard continued operating the PH-2 and -3 until 1944.

Variants

;XPH-1:Prototype. Two 537 hp (401 kW) Wright R-1750 engines. One built.;PH-1:Production version for U.S. Navy. Partly enclosed cockpit for pilots. Two 620 hp (463 kW) Wright R-1820-86 engines in short-chord Townend ring cowlings. Nine built.;PH-2:Version for U.S Coast Guard. Two 750 hp (560 kW) Wright R-1820F-51 engines. Armament omitted. Seven built.;PH-3:Improved version for Coast Guard. Long Chord NACA cowlings. Revised enclosed canopy for pilots. Seven built.

Operators

;flag|United States|1912
*United States Coast Guard
*United States Navy

pecifications (PH-3)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref= United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 Swanborough & Bowers 1976, p.255.]
crew=6
capacity=
length main= 51 ft 0 in
length alt= 15.55 m
span main= 72 ft 10 in
span alt= 22.21 m
height main= 19 ft 10 in
height alt= 6.05 m
area main= 1,710 ft²
area alt= 158.9 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 9,614 lb
empty weight alt= 4,370 kg
loaded weight main= 16,152 lb
loaded weight alt= 7,342 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main=
max takeoff weight alt=
more general=
engine (prop)=Wright R-1820F-51 Cyclone
type of prop=9 cylinder air cooled radial engine
number of props=2
power main= 750 hp
power alt= 560 kW
power original=
max speed main= 138 knots
max speed alt= 159 mph, 256 km/h
cruise speed main= 118 knots
cruise speed alt= 136 mph, 219 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 1,687 nm
range alt= 1,937 mi, 3,119 km
ceiling main= 21,350 ft
ceiling alt= 9,700 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main= 9.45 lb/ft²
loading alt= 46.2 kg/m²
thrust/weight=
power/mass main= 0.093 hp/lb
power/mass alt= 0.15 kW/kg
more performance=
armament=
*Four flexibly mounted 0.30 in Lewis guns
*Up to 1,000 lb (454 kg) depth bombs Donald 1995, p. 187.]
avionics=

ee also

aircontent
related=*Felixstowe F5L
*Naval Aircraft Factory PN
similar aircraft=*Consolidated P2Y
*Supermarine Stranraer
lists=*List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)
*List of seaplanes and flying boats
see also=

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Donald, David (ed.)."American Warplanes of World War II". London: Aerospace, 1995. ISBN 1 874023 72 7.
* Green, William. "War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Five: Flying Boats". London: Macdonald, 1962. ISBN 356 01449 5.
* Roberts, Michael D. " [http://www.history.navy.mil/branches/dictvol2.htm Dictionary of American Naval Aviation Squadrons: Volume 2: The History of VP, VPB, VP(HL) and VP(AM) Squadrons] ". Washington DC: Naval Historical Center, 2000.
* Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter M. "United States Navy Aircraft since 1911". London:Putnam, Second edition 1976. ISBN 0 370 10054 9.

External links

* [http://aerofiles.com/_h.html "Aerofiles"]
* [http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/specs/hall/ph-3.htm Hall PH-3]