RY-3 Liberator Express

The RY‑3 Liberator Express, produced by Consolidated Aircraft during the early 1940s, was a modified variant of the famous B‑24 Liberator designed specifically for long‑range transport and passenger service. First rolled out in 1943, the RY‑3 entered service with the United States Army Air Forces and later with commercial operators in South America and the Pacific, where its extended range proved vital for connecting remote bases. Structurally, the aircraft retained the high‑aspect‑ratio wing and twin‑tail design of the B‑24 but featured a reinforced fuselage, enlarged cargo doors, and a re‑configured interior that could accommodate up to 30 passengers or 10,000 lb of freight. Powerful Wright R‑1830 radial engines, each delivering 1,200 hp, drove four‑blade propellers that gave the Liberator Express a cruising speed of 215 mph and a maximum range of 3,400 mi—unmatched for transport aircraft of its era. Its robust landing gear allowed operation from rough, unpaved strips, making it a workhorse in wartime logistics and post‑war civil aviation. The RY‑3’s combination of range, payload, and versatility helped shape the development of modern heavy transport planes and cemented Consolidated’s reputation as an innovative aircraft manufacturer.