SBC Helldiver
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The SBC Helldiver was a two-place scout bomber built by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation. It was the last military biplane procured by the U.S. Navy.
The SBC-3 the inital production model was powered by a radial Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Junior R-1535 engine. The SBC-3 began operational service in 1938. Eighty-three SBC-3s were built.
The SBC-4 was powered by a radial Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 engine. The SBC-4 entered service in 1939. One hundred seventy-four SBC-4s were built including fifty SBC-4s that were delivered to the French Navy. Five of the french order were delivered to the British Fleet Air Arm (as the Curtiss Cleveland).
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (SBC-4)
General characteristics
- Crew: Two, pilot and gunner
- Length: 28 ft 4 in (8.64 m)
- Wingspan: 34 ft 0 in (10.36 m)
- Height: 12 ft 7 in (3.84 m)
- Wing area: 317 ft² (29.5 m²)
- Empty weight: 4,841 lb (2,196 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 7,632 lb (3,462 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820-34 Cyclone radial engine, 950 hp (709 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 237 mph (381 km/h)
- Range: 590 miles (950 km)
- Service ceiling: 27,300 ft (8,320 m)
- Rate of climb: ft/min (m/s)
- Wing loading: lb/ft² (kg/m²)
- Power/mass: hp/lb (kW/kg)
Armament
- 1x 0.30 in (7.62 mm) forward-firing machine gun
- 1x 0.30 in (7.62 mm) flexible rearward-firing machine gun
- 1x bomb of up to 1,000 lb (454 kg)
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