Other Pursuit Designs & Prototypes
Experimental Fighters and Development Concepts at Consolidated Aircraft
Although the P-30 / PB-2 was Consolidated’s only major production pursuit aircraft, the company explored several additional concepts and prototype studies during the interwar years. These designs—some built as testbeds, others existing only on drafting tables—reflect Consolidated’s broader interest in fighter development and the evolving tactical demands of the U.S. Army Air Corps.
While none of these projects entered full production, they contributed meaningfully to the company’s engineering experience, helping refine aerodynamic methods, metal airframe construction, and high-performance control systems. Together, they form the lesser-known but essential background of Consolidated’s pursuit program.
Exploring Alternative Fighter Configurations
As fighter doctrine advanced, Consolidated evaluated numerous design directions:
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streamlined monoplane configurations intended to exceed biplane performance
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retractable-gear prototypes for reduced drag and higher cruising speeds
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enclosed cockpit studies building on lessons from early test aircraft
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lightweight structures designed for rapid climb and maneuverability
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engine installation experiments, including turbo-supercharged layouts
These developmental studies helped the company stay aligned with the Army Air Corps’ rapid shift toward modern fighter requirements, even as fighter work remained a smaller portion of Consolidated’s overall output.
Prototype Work and Testing Insights
Several prototypes and partial builds enabled Consolidated engineers to:
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test wing-loading concepts
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evaluate new control surface configurations
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experiment with drag-reduction through tighter cowling and fuselage shaping
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analyze aircraft behavior at higher approach and stall speeds
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refine cockpit layout and pilot ergonomics
Even when prototypes were short-lived or not continued, the data they generated helped Consolidated become a more sophisticated design organization.
Why These Designs Mattered
Though they did not lead directly to mass-produced fighters, these pursuit studies:
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strengthened Consolidated’s understanding of high-speed aerodynamics
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influenced the design principles behind the PBY Catalina’s stability
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improved knowledge of metal airframe stress and construction
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informed the development of early bomber control systems
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contributed to Fleet’s understanding of future airpower requirements
In this way, Consolidated’s pursuit prototypes acted as stepping stones toward the company’s later engineering breakthroughs.
A Brief Chapter, A Lasting Impact
Consolidated would never become a major fighter manufacturer. Its future lay in flying boats, long-range patrol aircraft, transports, and strategic bombers. Yet the company’s small but ambitious pursuit development program provided key insights that helped define the engineering culture that later produced some of the most significant aircraft of World War II.
These prototypes remind us that aviation progress often emerges from experimentation, even when a design never reaches the production line.
Explore More Pursuit Aircraft
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P-30 / PB-2
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Return to the Pursuit Aircraft Program
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Continue in the Consolidated Aircraft section