Curtiss-Wright CW-19

CR-2, CW-19, and CW-23
Role	Civil utility aircraft
Manufacturer	Curtiss-Robertson, Curtiss-Wright
Designer	Don Berlin, Carl Scott, George Page
First flight	1935
Primary users	Chinese Air Force Cuban Air Force
Number built	ca. 30

The Curtiss-Wright CW-19 was a civil utility aircraft designed in the United States in the mid 1930s and built in small quantities in a number of variants including the CW-23 military trainer prototype. It was originally conceived as the Curtiss-Robertson CR-2 Coupe shortly before the Curtiss-Wright merger and the dropping of the Curtiss-Robertson brand. It was an all-metal, low-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional configuration with fixed tailwheel undercarriage and side-by-side seating for two. A prominent feature on all versions other than the original CR-2 prototypes was the large "trouser"-style wheel spats. While the design was never perfected for the civil market it was originally intended for, a militarized version was soon developed that replaced the side-by-side cabin with tandem seating and added provision for guns and bombs. Curtiss-Wright hoped that in this form, it could be sold on the export market as a ground-attack machine. Orders, however, were disappointing, with only 20 purchased by the Chinese Air Force, and three by the Cuban Air Force. An unarmed trainer version was also developed and offered to the USAAC, but no orders were placed.

In a final attempt to find a market for the design, engine power was increased from 450 hp to 600 hp, and retractable undercarriage was fitted. In this form, designated CW-23, the aircraft was offered once again to the USAAC, this time as an advanced trainer, but once again, the service was not interested. The CW-19 did, however, form the basis of the far more successful CW-21 and CW-22 designs.

Variants

• CR-2 - Curtiss-Robertson prototype with strut-braced wing and unfaired undercarriage (2 built)

• CW-19L - prototype with cantilever wing, spatted undercarriage and Lambert R-266 engine (1 built)
• CW-19W - prototype with Warner Super Scarab engine (1 built)
• CW-19R - militarized version with tandem seating, weapons mountings, and Wright J-6-7 engine (23 built)
  • CW-A19R - military trainer offered to USAAC (3 built, 1 later converted to CW-22)
  • CW-B19R - projected civil version of CW-A19R (not built)

• CW-23 - advanced military trainer with Pratt & Whitney R-1340 engine and retractable undercarriage (1 built)

Operators

•  Bolivia received 10 CW-19Rs in 1938, with four remaining in service in 1949.^[1]
•  China purchased 20 CW-19Rs.^[2]
•  Cuba received five CW-19Rs in 1937, one remaining in service until 1948.^[1]
•  Dominican Republic purchased two CW-19Rs in 1937.^[1]
•  Ecuador received six in 1936, remaining in service until 1943.^[1]

Specifications (CW-19R)

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947 ^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: Two, pilot and gunner
• Length: 26 ft 4 in (8.02 m)
• Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.66 m)
• Wing area: 174 ft² (16.2 m²)
• Empty weight: 1,992 lb (904 kg)
• Gross weight: 3,500 lb (1,588 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-760E2, 350 hp (260 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 185 mph (298 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 164 mph (264 km/h)
• Rate of climb: 1,890 ft/min (9.6 m/s)

Armament

• 1 to 3 × fixed, forward-firing .30 machine gun
• 1 × trainable, rearward-firing .30 machine gun
• provision for underwing bomb load

References

1. ^ ^{a b c d} Hagedorn 1992, p.76.
2. ^ Bowers 1979, p.411.
3. ^ Bowers 1979, p.413.

• Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10029 8. 
• Hagedorn, Dan. "Curtiss Types in Latin America". Air Enthusiast (Stamford, UK: Key Publishing) (Forty-Five, March–May 1992): pp. 61–77. ISSN 01435450. 
• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 288. 
• World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 891 Sheet 55. 

See also