History of AirplanesAn unusual biplane airliner, capable of carrying 18 passengers.
photo probably taken at East Boston airport, c. 1936
Curtiss-Wright Condor, NC12396
On the Curtiss-Wright Condor aircraft (which had no galleys) American Airlines (Airways) hostesses served their eighteen passengers coffee, tea, Coca-Cola, biscuits and coffeecake from a picnic hamper.
From Aero Digest, April, 1935:
Curtiss-Wright Airplane Company, Robertson, Missouri
• Fifteen- or [...]
From Aero Digest, April, 1935:
Curtiss-Wright Airplane Company, Robertson, Missouri
• President: Ralph S. Damon. Vice-president and General Manager: G. J. Brandeweide. Sales Manager: E. K. Campbell. Chief Engineer: George Page. Export representative: Curtiss-Wright Export Corporation, Rockefeller Center, New York City, N. Y.
Five-place biplane pusher-type amphibion.
Wright Whirlwind R-975-E1 engine, 365 horsepower.
Span 40 feet. Length [...]
From Aero Digest, April, 1935:
Curtiss-Wright Airplane Company, Robertson, Missouri
• Two-place open biplane. (Models 16E and 16WJ respectively; data on 16WJ indicated in brackets.) Wright Whirlwind R-540-E engine, 175 horsepower (Warner Scarab Junior engine, 90 horsepower).
Span 28 feet 10 inches. Length overall 20 feet 9 inches. Height overall 8 feet 10 inches. Wing area 222 [...]
From Aero Digest, April, 1935:
Curtiss-Wright Airplane Company, Robertson, Missouri
• Three-place open biplane. (Models A14D, DeLuxe B14B and Special DeLuxe D14R respectively; data on B14B indicated in brackets and on D14R following brackets in that order). Wright Whirlwind engines, 250 horsepower ( 330 horsepower) 420 horsepower. A TC 442 (485).
Span 31 feet. Length overall 23 [...]
From Aero Digest, April, 1935:
Curtiss-Wright Airplane Company, Robertson, Missouri
• Three-place open biplane. Wright Whirlwind 540-E engine, 175 horsepower. ATC 463.
Span 28 feet 10 inches. Length overall 21 feet 1 inch. Height overall 8 feet 10 inches. Wing area 206 square feet.
Power loading 12.3 pounds per horsepower. Wing loading 10.4 pounds per square foot. [...]
Curtiss dive bomber
“Helldiver!” What a great name!”
Tough to fly, poorly designed, and delivered too slowly, the early models of the Curtiss SB2C would have come somewhere near the top of most lists of “Worst Aircraft of World War Two.” Of course, that judgement is no reflection on the crews who had to fly “The Beast,” [...]