Curtiss 18

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Curtiss 18-T Wasp
Type twoseat fighter triplane
Manufacturer Curtiss Engineering Corporation
Designed by Charles B Kirkham
Maiden flight May 7, 1918
Introduction February 1919
Primary user United States Navy

The Curtiss 18 T Wasp, also known as the Kirkham,[1] was an early American triplane fighter aircraft built by Curtiss Engineering for the United States Navy. It was designed to protect bombing squads along the French coast, and a primary requisite for this job was speed.[2] Flown by Roland Rholfs, the Wasp achieved a world speed record of 163 mph (262 km/h) in August 1918 carrying a full military load of 1076 pounds.[3] After World War I, it was employed as a racing plane: a T-2 model nearly won the Curtiss Marine Trophy Race in 1922 (limited to U.S. Navy pilots), but pilot Sandy Sanderson ran out of fuel just before the finish line.[4]

Speed wasn't the Curtiss' only strength: the Wasp set a new altitude record in 1919 at 30,400 feet, and unofficially it reached even greater altitudes. It is said to be the top-performing triplane of the war.[5]

The Curtiss 18 T-2 was an improved version of its predecessor, boosting 50 additional horsepower. The wings of the new model were swept back five degrees. It was also five feet longer with a nine-foot greater wingspan, though its flight ceiling was 2,000 feet lower. Curtiss Engineering followed the success of the 18 T with the launch of the 18 B "Hornet", built to similar specifications.[6]

[edit] Specifications (T-1)

Data from Virtual Aircraft Museum[7] and Aerofiles[6]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m)
  • Wingspan: 31 ft 10 in (9.70 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m)
  • Wing area: 288.04 sq ft (26.76 m2)
  • Empty weight: 1,069 lb (485 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 3,049 lb (1,383 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1× water-cooled 12-cylinder vee engine, 350 hp (--)
  • Propellers: four-blade prop, 1 per engine

Performance

Armament

  • Guns:
Primary: 2× forward-firing synchronized .30 Marlin guns
Secondary: 2× rear-cockpit .303 Lewis guns on a Scarff ring

[edit] References

  1. ^ PART 2 Test of Strength 1917­1919
  2. ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=kG3Ub6cgalMC&pg=PA2508&lpg=PA2508&dq=%22curtiss+18+t%22&source=web&ots=-ucmK0P817&sig=4SxsCYKHwhs4N-6Uphu_vpuT_yc
  3. ^ Aviation History Facts: August 1
  4. ^ Concise History
  5. ^ Mystery Plane
  6. ^ a b Curtiss # to J
  7. ^ Curtiss 18-T - fighter

[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

Maritime patrol: Model H • HS-1L and -2L

Training: Model L • Model JN • AT-4 Hawk • AT-5 Hawk

Naval Training: NC • N2C

Fighters: 18 • PW-8 Hawk • P-1 Hawk • P-2 Hawk • P-3 Hawk • P-4 Hawk • P-5 Hawk • P-6 Hawk • XP-31 • P-36 Hawk • P-40 • XP-46 • XP-53 • YP-60

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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