Curtiss Model R

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Model R
Type Military utility aircraft
Manufacturer
Designed by Curtiss
Maiden flight 1915
Primary user United States Army, United States Navy
Number built ca. 290

The Curtiss Model R was a utility aircraft produced for the United States Army and Navy during World War I. It was a conventional, two-bay biplane with slightly staggered wings of unequal span. The aircraft was provided with two open cockpits in tandem and fixed tailskid undercarriage, but many were built for the Navy with twin floats replacing the wheels. During the course of the war, Model Rs were used for general liaison and communication duties, as well for observation, training, and as air ambulances. In practice, the Curtiss powerplants supplied with these aircraft proved insufficient and were mostly replaced with Liberty engines. The Navy's Model R-3 floatplane had extended-span, three-bay wings, and was intended for use as a torpedo bomber. Some of these were later fitted with wheeled undercarriage and transferred to the Army as bombers under the designation Model R-9.

[edit] Variants

  • Model R - prototype
  • Model R-2 - initial production version for Army (12 built)
  • Model R-3 - floatplane version for Navy
  • Model R-4 - air ambulance version of R-2 for Army (55 built)
    • Model R-4L - Model R-4s refitted with Liberty L-12
      • Model R-4LM - Model R-4Ls with engine derated from 400 hp to 360 hp (300 kW to 270 kW)
  • Model R-6 - torpedo-bomber floatplane for Navy (96 built)
    • Model R-6L - Model R-6 with Liberty L-12 engine (122 built, plus 40 converted)
  • Model R-7 - Model R-6 with extended wingspan (1 built)
  • Model R-9 - Model R-3s refitted with wheeled undercarriage for Army

[edit] Specifications (R-2)

General characteristics

  • Crew: one piot
  • Capacity: 1 passenger
  • Length: 38 ft 5 in (11.70 m)
  • Wingspan: 45 ft 11 in (14.00 m)
  • Wing area: 505 ft² (46.9 m²)
  • Empty weight: 1,821 lb (826 kg)
  • Gross weight: 3,093 lb (1,403 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss V-X, 160 hp (120 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 86 mph (138 km/h)
  • Endurance: 6 hours  42 min

[edit] References

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 285. 
  • aerofiles.com


[edit] See also

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By role

Experimental: No. 1 • Model C • Tanager

Racing: No. 2 • CR • R2C • R3C

General utility: Model D • Model E • Model F • Robin • Thrush

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Naval Training: NC • N2C

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Naval Fighters: FC • F2C • F3C • F4C • F6C • F7C • F8C • F9C • F10C • F11C • XF12C • F13C • XF14C • F15C

Airliners: Eagle • Kingbird

Naval Scouts/Dive Bombers: CS • S2C • XS3C • S4C • SC • SBC • SB2C • XSB3C • SOC • SO2C • SO3C

Observation: O-1 Falcon • O-12 Falcon • O-13 Falcon • O-16 Falcon • O-18 Falcon • O-26 Falcon • O-39 Falcon • O-52 Owl

Naval Observation: OC • O2C • O3C

Bombers: B-2 Condor

Naval Bombers: BFC • BF2C • BTC • BT2C

Ground Attack: A-3 Falcon • A-4 Falcon • A-5 Falcon • A-6 Falcon • A-8 Shrike • YA-10 Shrike • A-12 Shrike • YA-14

Licensed production: NBS-1
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