Ryan ST - YPT

A military version of the civilian Ryan STA, the YPT-16 became the first monoplane acquired by the U.S. Army Air Corps as a primary trainer. The Air Corps ordered 15 YPT-16s after purchasing a single Ryan STA-1 in 1939 for testing as the XPT-16. From 1940-1942, the Air Corps bought nearly 1,200 more similar Ryan trainers as PT-20s, PT-21s and PT-22s.

• Acquired by the USAF Museum (Dayton) in 1986, the aircraft on display is a Ryan STA withdrawn from the YPT-16 production run. Never owned by the Air Corps, it flew under civilian registration. However, the logbook shows that the aircraft participated in demonstrations to Air Corps officials at Wright Field, Ohio, in July 1939.