Curtiss R3C

Curtiss R3C
Curtiss R3C-2
Role	R3C
Manufacturer	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
Introduction	1925
Primary user	US Army

The Curtiss R3C was an US-American racing aircraft built in landplane and seaplane form. It was a single-seated biplane built by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company.

The R3C-1^[1] was the landplane version and won the Pulitzer Trophy Race in 12 October 1925 with a speed of 248.9 mph (406.5 km/h).

The R3C-2 was a twin-float seaplane built for the Schneider Trophy race. In 1925, it took place at Chesapeake Bay in Baltimore, Maryland. With 232.57 mph (374.274 km/h), pilot Jimmy Doolittle won the trophy with a Curtiss R3C-2. The other two R3C-2, piloted by George Cuddihy and Ralph Oftsie, did not reach the finish line. The next day, with the same plane on a straight course, Doolittle reached 245.7 mph (395.4 km/h), a new world record. For the next Schneider Trophy, that took place on 13 November 1926, the R3C-2's engine was further improved, and pilot Christian Franck Schilt won the second place with 231.364 mph (372.34 km/h).

Operators

 United States

• United States Army Air Service

Specifications (R3C-2)

An R3C-2 at the Naval Aircraft Factory in 1926.

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 22 ft (6.71 m)
• Wingspan: 22.0 ft (6.71 m)
• Height: 10 ft 4 in (3.14 m)
• Wing area: 144 sq ft (13.4m²)
• Airfoil: Curtiss C-80
• Empty weight: 2,135 lb (968 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 2,738 lb (1,242 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss V-1400, 565 hp (421 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 245 mph (213 knots, 394 km/h)
• Range: 290 mi (252 nmi, 467 km)

See Also

• Curtiss CR

External links

• computer-designed picture (and photo) at www.hydroretro.net
• photo of the R3C-2 in the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum

Sources

1. ^ Also given the "paper" designation F3C as fighters in the US Navy designation system: Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p.127.
2. ^ Bowers 1979, p.237

• Angelucci, Enzo. World Encyclopedia of Civil Aircraft. London:Willow Books, 1984. ISBN 0-00-218148-7.
• Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947. London:Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
• Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter M. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London:Putnam, 1976. ISBN 0-370-10054-9.
• The Golden Age of Aviation – Curtiss R3C-2
• Pulitzer Trophy web site
• Schneider Trophy 1925 web site (french)
• German edition “Flugzeuge”, Enzo Angelucci, 1974 ISBN 3-8068-4024-5
• results of the Schneider Trophy from the Society of Air Racing Historians