Consolidated PB2Y Coronado

The Flying Fortress of the Sea — Built for Range, Strength, and the Open Ocean.

Overview

Consolidated United States 1937–1940 $300,000 (2015)

In the vast expanse of the Pacific, few aircraft symbolized American naval power like the Consolidated PB2Y Coronado. Massive, four-engined, and capable of crossing oceans, it was designed to carry war to the enemy’s shores — yet its size and timing meant it would always live in the shadow of its smaller sibling, the PBY Catalina.

Specifications

Units
Engine
4 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-88 Twin Wasp
Engine type
Piston
Power
4 × 1,200 hp · 895 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
10
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
79 ft 5 in  ·  24.20 m
Tail height
27 ft 7 in  ·  8.40 m
Fuselage diameter
—
Wing span
114 ft 10 in  ·  35.00 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
68,000 lb  ·  30,800 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
—
Fuel capacity
Max cruise speed
123 kt  ·  142 mph  ·  228 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
—
Range
1,295 nm  ·  1,490 mi  ·  2,400 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
20,000 ft  ·  6,100 m
Rate of climb
440 ft/min  ·  2 m/s
Takeoff distance
—
Landing distance
—
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Consolidated PB2Y ;Coronado’

Operational Context

Consolidated PB2Y Coronado — The Navy’s Ocean-Crossing Giant

The PB2Y Coronado was a large, four-engine flying boat built by Consolidated Aircraft for the U.S. Navy during World War II. Conceived in the late 1930s as a long-range patrol bomber and transport, the Coronado first flew in December 1937 and entered service in 1941. It was the Navy’s answer to the need for greater payload, range, and survivability than the earlier twin-engine PBY Catalina.

Powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engines of 1,200 horsepower each, the PB2Y-3 variant could reach speeds of around 200 mph (320 km/h) and had a range of roughly 2,500 miles (4,000 km). The aircraft carried a crew of ten and could haul up to 8,000 pounds (3,600 kg) of bombs or depth charges. Its defensive armament included multiple .50-caliber machine guns in powered turrets for all-around protection.

While the Coronado was robust and versatile, its range was shorter and its fuel consumption higher than the smaller PBY. As a result, it saw limited combat use compared to its sibling. Many were converted for transport and medical evacuation duties, including operations with the Naval Air Transport Service across the Pacific.

A total of 217 PB2Ys were built before production ended in 1945. Though it never gained the fame of the Catalina, the Coronado served loyally as a heavy transport and flying command post — a symbol of an era when the world’s oceans were ruled not only by ships, but by wings.