Curtiss T-32 Condor II

T-32 Condor II

A USAAC YC-30 in 1933
Role	Biplane transport and bomber
Manufacturer	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
First flight	30 January 1933
Number built	45
Developed from	B-2 Condor

The Curtiss T-32 Condor II was a 1930s American biplane airliner and bomber aircraft built by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. It was used by the United States Army Air Corps as an executive transport.

Development

The Condor II was a 1933 two-bay biplane of mixed construction with a single vertical stabilizer and rudder, and retractable landing gear. It was powered by two Wright Cyclone radial engines. The first aircraft was flown on 30 January 1933 and a production batch of 21 aircraft was then built. The production aircraft were fitted out as 12-passenger luxury night sleeper transports. They entered service with Eastern Air Transport and American Airways, forerunners of Eastern Air Lines and American Airlines on regular night services for the next three years. The June 1, 1934 American Airlines system timetable marketed its Condors as being "The World's First Complete Sleeper-Planes" with these 12-passenger aircraft being equipped with sleeper berths and also being capable of cruising at 190 miles per hour.^[1] An example of the Condor services operated by American were daily overnight flights between Dallas and Los Angeles during the mid 1930s with a routing of Dallas - Ft. Worth - Abilene - Big Spring, TX - El Paso - Douglas, AZ - Tucson - Phoenix - Los Angeles.^[2]

The Colombian Air Force operated three BT-32 equipped with floats in the Colombia-Peru War in 1933.

Two modified T-32s were bought by the United States Army Air Corps (designated YC-30) for use as executive transports. One Condor was converted with extra fuel tanks and used by the 1939-1941 United States Antarctic Service Expedition, and, unique for a Condor, had a fixed undercarriage to allow use on floats or skis. Some aircraft were later modified to AT-32 standard with variable-pitch propellers and improved engine nacelles. The AT-32D variant could be converted from sleeper configuration to daytime use with 15 seats. Four T-32s operating in the United Kingdom were pressed into service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of World War II.

Eight bomber variants (BT-32) were built with manually operated machine gun turrets in the nose and above the rear fuselage. All these aircraft were exported. A military cargo version (CT-32) was also built for Argentina. It had a large loading door on the starboard side of the fuselage.

Variants

A USAAC YC-30 in 1933.

T-32: Production luxury night sleeper, 21 built including two as YC-30s
T-32C: Ten T-32s modified to AT-32 standard.
AT-32A: Variant with variable-pitch propellers and 710 hp (529 kW) Wright SGR-1820-F3 Cyclone engines, three built.
AT-32B: An AT-32 variant with 720 hp (537 kW) Wright SGR-1820-F2 Cyclone engines, three built.
AT-32C: An AT-32 variant, one built.
AT-32D: An AT-32 variant with 720 hp (537 kW) Wright SGR-1820-F3 Cyclone engines, one built.
AT-32E: AT-32 variant for the United States Navy as the R4C-1, two built.
BT-32: Bomber variant, eight built.
CT-32: Military cargo variant with large cargo door, three built.
YC-30: United States Army Air Corps designation for two T-32s.

Curtiss R4C-1

R4C-1: United States Navy designation for two AT-32Es (one for United States Marine Corps) both later to the United States Antarctic Survey.

Operators

Civil operators

Chile

LAN-Chile operated three former American Airlines aircraft

China

China National Aviation Corporation operated six AT-32E freighters

Switzerland

Swissair

United Kingdom

International Air Freight, Croydon operated four T-32s.^[3]

United States

American Airways (subsequently renamed American Airlines)
Eastern Air Transport (subsequently renamed Eastern Air Lines)

Military operators

Argentina

Argentine Naval Aviation operated three aircraft of the CT-32 variant, one as a crew trainer and two as freighters.

China

Chinese Nationalist Air Force operated BT-32 variant.

Colombia

Colombian Air Force operated three BT-32 variants on floats.

Honduras

Honduran Air Force

Peru

Peruvian Air Force operated BT-32 variant.

United Kingdom

Royal Air Force - Four T-32 variants impressed from International Air Freight. Not used in service and scrapped at No 30 Maintenance Unit. RAF Sealand.^[3]

United States

United States Army Air Corps operated two YC-30 aircraft.
United States Marine Corps received one R4C-1 aircraft.
United States Navy received one R4C-1 aircraft.

Specifications (BT-32)

General characteristics

Length: 49 ft 6 in (15.09 m)
Wingspan: 82 ft 0 in (24.99 m)
Height: 16 ft 4 in (4.98 m)
Wing area: 1,276 ft² (118.54 m²)
Empty weight: 11,233 lb (5,095 kg)
Gross weight: 17,500 lb (7,938 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Wright SGR-1820-F3 Cyclone radial piston engine, 710 hp (529 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 176 mph (283 km/h)
Range: 840 miles (1,352 km)
Service ceiling: 22,000 ft (6,705 m)

Armament

5 × flexible 0.3 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns
1,680 lb (762 kg) Bombs

Accidents and incidents

On 27 July 1934, Swissair Condor CH-170 broke up in mid-air and crashed at Tuttlingen, Germany killing all 12 passengers and crew.^[3]

References

↑ http://www.timetableimages.com, June 1, 1934 American Airlines system timetable.
↑ http://www.timetableimages.com, June 1, 1934 American Airlines system timetable
1 2 3 "The Curtiss Condor". Aeroplane. No. July 2010 (IPC Media). 2010. pp. 88–89.

Andrade, John M. U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9. (Page 63 and 214)
Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947. London: Putnam & CompanyLtd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
Taylor, H.A. "The Uncompetitive Condor" AirEnthusiast Six, March–June 1978. Bromley, Kent, UK: Pilot Press Ltd., 1978.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing, 1985.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss T-32 Condor II.

Aircraft produced by Curtiss and Curtiss-Wright

Manufacturer
designations

Early types	Golden Flier Reims Racer Hudson Flyer Gordon Bennett Monoplane Beachey Special

Model letters	C D E F FL G GS H HA J K L M MF N NC O JN R S T

Model numbers	1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27¹ 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45¹ 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59A/59B 60 61 62 63 64 65¹ 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74¹ 75 76 77 78¹ 79 80¹ 81 82 83¹ 84 85 86 87 88 89¹ 90 91 92¹ 93¹ 94 95 96 97 98 99

"CA" series	CA-1

"CW" series	CW-1 CW-2 CW-3 CW-4 CW-5 CW-6 CW-7 CW-8 CW-9 CW-10 CW-11 CW-12 CW-14 CW-15 CW-16 CW-17 CW-18 CW-19 CW-20 CW-21 CW-22 CW-23 CW-24 CW-25 CW-27 CW-29 CW-32

"X" series	X-100 X-200

Operator & role

Civil

Experimental	No. 1 Model C Tanager

Racers & record	No. 2 Cox Racer

Airliners	Eagle Condor 18 Condor II Kingbird Thrush Commando

Utility	Model D Model E Model F Carrier Pigeon Falcon Robin Lark 6B CW-10 CW-12 CW-15 Sedan CW-16 CW-19W

Army

Ground attack	A-3 A-4 A-5 A-6 A-8 YA-10 A-12 YA-14 A-18 A-25 A-40 XA-43

Bombers	NBS-1 B-2 XNBS-4

Transports	XC-10 C-30 Condor C-46 Commando C-55 Commando C-76 C-113 Commando

Fighters	S 18 PN-1 PW-8 P-1 to P-6 XP-10 P-11 P-14² P-17 XP-18² XP-19² YP-20 XP-21 XP-22 XP-23 XP-31 P-36 P-37 P-40 XP-42 XP-46 XP-53 XP-55 YP-60 XP-62 XP-71 XP-87

Observation	O-1 O-11 O-12 O-13 O-16 O-18 XO-24² O-26 XO-30² O-39 O-40 O-52

Racers	R-6 R-8

Trainers	J L JN Fledgling AT-4 Hawk AT-5 Hawk BT-4 AT-9 Jeep

Experimental	X-19

Licensed	USAO-1 NBS-1/model 30

Navy

Bombers	CT BFC BF2C SBC SB2C XSB3C² XBTC XBT2C

Fighters	HA GS TS-1 FC F2C F3C F4C F5C¹ F6C F7C F8C F9C F10C F11C XF12C F13C XF14C XF15C

Observation/scout	CS/SC S2C XS3C S4C SC OC O2C O3C SOC SO2C SO3C

Trainers	N-9 N2C CW-16 SNC

Transports	RC R4C R5C

Maritime patrol	H-16 F5L HS-1L & HS-2L

Racers & record	NC CR R2C R3C

Export

Bombers	Canada CW-14 Osprey

Martime patrol	H-2, H-4, H-8 & H-16 F5L HS-2L

Fighters	CW-17² CW-21 Demon

Trainers	Canuck CW-14 Osprey CW-16 CW-22

¹ Designation skipped ² Not built

United States military transport aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems

Army/Air Force sequence (1925-1962)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7 C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16 C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20 C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27 C-28 C-29 C-30 C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34 C-35 C-36 C-37 C-38 C-39 C-40 C-41/A C-42 C-43 C-44 C-45 C-46 C-47/T C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 C-54 C-55 C-56 C-57 C-58 C-59 C-60 C-61 C-62 C-63 C-64 C-65 C-66 C-67 C-68 C-69 C-70/A/B/C/D C-71 C-72 C-73 C-74 C-75 C-76 C-77/B-D C-78 C-79 C-80 C-81 C-82 C-83 C-84 C-85 C-86 C-87 C-88 C-89 C-90 C-91 C-92 C-93 C-94 C-95 C-96 C-97/KC-97 C-98 C-99 C-100 C-101 C-102 C-103 C-104 C-105 C-106 C-107 C-108 C-109 C-110 C-111 C-112 C-113 C-114 C-115 C-116 C-117 C-118 C-119 C-120 C-121/F C-122 C-123/A C-124 C-125 C-126 C-127 (I) C-127 (II) C-128 C-129 C-130/J C-131 C-132 C-133 C-134 C-135/KC-135 C-136 C-137 C-138¹ C-139¹ C-140 C-141 C-142

Tri-service sequence (1962-present)	C-1 C-2 C-3 C-4 C-5 C-6 C-7/B C-8 C-9 C-10 C-11 C-12 C-13¹ C-14 C-15 C-16¹ C-17 C-18 C-19 C-20A-D/F-H C-21 C-22 C-23 C-24 C-25 C-26 C-27/J C-28 C-29 C-30¹ C-31 C-32 C-33 C-34¹ C-35 C-36 C-37A/B C-38 C-39¹ C-40 C-41 C-42¹ C-43¹ C-44¹ C-45 C-46

Revived original sequence (2005-present)	C-143 C-144 C-145 C-146

Non-sequential designations	C-767 C-880

¹ Not assigned See also: AC-47 • AC-119 • AC-130 • DC-130 • EC-130 • HC-130 • KC-130 • LC-130 • MC-130 • WC-130 • CT-39 • CT-43

USN/USMC transport designations 1931–1962

Atlantic Aircraft	RA

Budd	RB

Curtiss	RC R2C⁴ R3C⁴ R4C R5C

Douglas	RD R2D R3D R4D R5D R6D

Bellanca	RE

Kinner	RK

Kreider-Reisner	RK² R2K

Martin	RM

Lockheed	RO R2O R3O R4O R5O R6O R7O-1/-2 to "V"

Stinson	RQ R2Q² R3Q

Fairchild	RQ R2Q R3Q² R4Q

Ford	RR

Sikorsky	RS

Northrop	RT

Lockheed	from "O" R6V R7V-1/-2 R8V

Convair	RY R2Y R3Y R4Y

¹ Not assigned • ² Assigned to a different manufacturer's type • ³ Sequence restarted • ⁴ Assigned to a different class of aircraft

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