Curtiss CS

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

CS
Type Reconnaissance and torpedo bomber aircraft
Manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane Company, Martin
Maiden flight 1923
Primary user United States Navy
Number built 83

The Curtiss CS (or Model 31) was a reconnaissance and torpedo bomber aircraft used by the United States Navy during the 1920s. It was a large, single engine biplane with single-bay, unstaggered wings, the design conventional in all respects other than the fact that the lower wing was of greater span than the upper. The CS was built to allow its undercarriage to be quickly and easily swapped between wheeled, tailskid undercarriage, and twin pontoons for operation from water. Provision for the carriage of a torpedo was semi-recessed into the underside of the fuselage, blended in behind an aerodynamic fairing. The pilot and gunner sat in tandem open cockpits, while accommodation inside the fuselage was provided for a third crewmember who served as bombardier and radio operator. This station was also provided with a hatch in the dorsal side of the fuselage aft of the gunner's position, and a blister on the ventral side aft of the torpedo recess, which was used for aiming bombs or torpedoes.

[edit] Development

Curtiss produced six CS-1 prototypes for the Navy in 1923, which were mostly used for engine tests. Two examples of the improved CS-2 were built the following year and set a number of world speed, distance, and endurance records for seaplanes in its class. The Navy ordered both the CS-1 and CS-2 into production, but when Curtiss tendered with a price of $32,000 per aircraft, Martin undercut them with a tender of $25,200 for each CS-1 and $19,863 for each CS-2 and won the contract. Curtiss refused to provide full sets of drawings and data to Martin, so Martin-built machines were in part reverse-engineered from a Curtiss-built CS-1 provided by the Navy. By the time the Martin-produced aircraft were delivered in 1925–26, the Navy's designation system had changed, and they entered service as the SC-1 and SC-2. Martin-built SC-2s suffered from poor handling characteristics and soon earned the nickname "Sea Cow". Meanwhile, the Naval Aircraft Factory made extensive modifications to the two Curtiss CS-2s leading them to be redesignated CS-3. Further development of the design was carried out by Martin as the T3M and T4M, and eventually by Great Lakes as the TG.

[edit] Operational history

In 1924, the CS-2 was used to break numerous world records for seaplanes in its class in three long-range flights. The first of these took place overnight between 22 and 23 June, when Lt Frank Wead and Lt John Price set five records - distance (963.123 miles, 1,544.753 km), duration (13 hr, 23 min, 15 sec), speed over 500 km (73.41 mph, 117.74 km/h), speed over 1,000 km (74.27 mph, 119,12 km/h) and speed over 1,500 km (74.17 mph, 118.96 km/h). Between 11 and 12 July, the same pilots would break the distance and duration records again (994.19 miles, 1,594.58 km over 14 hr, 53 min, 44 sec). On October 10, these same two records would be exceeded by Lt Andrew Crinkley and Lt Rossmore Lyon in a flight of 1,460 miles (2,342 km) in 20 hours 28 minutes. While these would have been new world records, the flight was not officially timed, and was therefore not recognized as such.

[edit] Specifications (SC-2)

General characteristics

  • Crew: Three, pilot, gunner, and radio operator/bombardier
  • Length: 37 ft 9 in (11.50 m)
  • Wingspan: 56 ft 7 in (17.25 m)
  • Height: 16 ft 0 in (4.80 m)
  • Gross weight: 8,421 lb (3,820 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Wright T-3, 585 hp (436 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 105 mph (169 km/h)
  • Range: 1,020 miles (1,640 km)
  • Service ceiling: 2,020 ft (615 m)

Armament

  • 1 × rearward-firing machine gun in ring mount
  • 1 × 1,618 lb (734 kg) torpedo

[edit] References

  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 278. 
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 901 Sheet 07. 
  • NAS Grosse Ile
  • history.navy.mil


[edit] See also

v • d • e
USN scout aircraft designations
Scout

Curtiss: CS  • S2C  • XS3C  • S4C  • SC (designation reused)

Dayton-Wright: SDW

Bellanca: SE

Grumman: SF

Great Lakes: XSG

Loening: SL  • S2L

Sikorsky: SS

Vought: SU

Dayton-Wright: WS
Scout Bomber
Scout Observation

Curtiss: SOC  • SO2C  • SO3C

Bellanca: SOE

Edo: SO2E

Fairchild: SOK

Naval Aircraft Factory: SON

Ryan SOR

Vought: (SOU not allocated)  • XSO2U
Scout Trainer
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Aircraft produced by Curtiss
Manufacturer
designations

No. 1 • No. 2

Model: C • D • E • F • G • H • J • K • L • M • N • JN • R

Model: 1 • 2 • 3 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 23 • 26 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59A/59B • 60 • 61 • 63 • 64 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 79 • 81 • 82 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 90 • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 • 99
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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