Curtiss CR
| Model 23, CR, R-6 |
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| The CR-1 with Bert Acosta, 1921 |
| Role |
Racing aircraft |
| Manufacturer |
Curtiss |
| First flight |
1921 |
| Primary user |
United States Navy |
| Number built |
4 |
The Curtiss CR was a racing aircraft designed for the United States Navy in 1921. It was a conventional single-seater biplane with a monocoque fuselage and staggered single-bay wings of equal span braced with N-struts. Two essentially similar landplane versions were built as the CR-1 and CR-2, which were both eventually converted to seaplanes as the CR-3 in 1923 and CR-4 in 1924. A refined version was developed for the US Army Air Service under the designation R-6. These latter two aircraft featured refined aerodynamics included surface-mounted radiators.
Operational history
The Curtiss CRs enjoyed successful racing careers. Their first major win was at the 1921 Pulitzer Trophy race, where piloted by Bert Acosta the CR-1 took first place with an average speed of 176.75 mph (283.49 km/h), nearly two minutes ahead of its closest rival. The following year, this aircraft was modified and redesignated CR-2 and joined in the Pulitzer race by a second aircraft built to the same new standard, plus two R-6s flown by Army pilots. These Curtiss aircraft took first through fourth place, the two R-6s followed by the two CR-2s. The race was won by Lt. Russell Maughan with an average speed of 205.856 mph (330,172 km/h) with Lt. Lester Maitland in second place (198.850 mph/318.936 km/h). Maughan's effort incidentally broke every closed-circuit airspeed record up to 124 mi (200 km). The CR-2s took third and fourth places piloted by Lt Harold Brow (average speed 193.695 mph/310.667 km/h) and Lt Jg Al Williams (average speed 187.996 mph/301.527 km/h).
The Army built upon this success with the R-6s by using the aircraft to break the world airspeed record before 1922 was out, Gen William Mitchell flying one to 224.28 mph (359.72 km/h) on 18 October. In March the following year, an R-6 flown by Lt. Maughan lifted the record to 236.587 mph (380.74 km/h). The R-6 design was developed in 1923 into the longed-winged XPW-8, the prototype of the PW-8 fighter.
In 1923, the CR-2s were fitted with floats for the Schneider Trophy race and redesignated CR-3. The aircraft took first and second place, piloted by David Rittenhouse (average speed 177.977 mph, 285.457 km/h) and Rutledge Irvine (173.932 mph, 278.970 km/h). Following this victory, one of the aircraft was further modified as the CR-4 for an attempt on the world airspeed record for seaplanes. It achieved this in 1924 with a speed of 188 mph.
Operators
- United States
Specifications (CR.3 Seaplane)
Data from Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 (pilot)
- Length: 24 ft 8 in (7.52 m)
- Wingspan: 22 ft 8 in (6.90 m)
- Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.27 m)
- Wing area: 168 ft2 (15.6 m2)
- Empty weight: 2,119 lb (961 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,597 lb (1,178 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss D-12 5PL, 450 hp (336 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 194 mph (312 km/h)
- Range: 281 miles (452 km)
- Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,706 m)
See also
- Related development
Curtiss R3C
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss Aircraft, 1907–1947. London: Putnam & Company Ltd.. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 796.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 891, Sheet 45.
External links
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USAAS racing aircraft designations 1919-1924
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