TheCurtiss Falconwas a family of militarybiplaneaircraft built by the American aircraft manufacturerCurtiss Aeroplane and Motor Companyduring the 1920s. Most saw service as part of theUnited States Army Air Corpsas observation aircraft with the designationsO-1andO-11,or as the attack aircraft designated theA-3 Falcon.
| Falcon | |
|---|---|
 Curtiss A-3 Falcon. This was the first A-3 aircraft, later converted to O-1B. | |
| General information | |
| Type | Observation, Attack |
| Manufacturer | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 338 USAAC[1] 150 USN/USMC |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1925 |
| Retired | October 1937 |
U.S. Navyvariants were used initially as fighter-bombers with the designationF8C Falcon,then as the firstU.S. Marine Corpsdive bomberswith the nameHelldiver.Two later generations of Curtiss dive-bombers were also namedHelldiver.
The type was introduced in 1925 and saw first-line service in the United States until 1934. Curtiss Falcons fought in theConstitutionalist Revolutionof 1932 inBrazil,used by the forces ofSão Paulo.
Design and development
editTheFalcon XO-1prototypewas evaluated by the USAAC along with eleven other prototypes in 1924 and theDouglas XO-2was declared the winner of that competition. So Curtiss re-engined the prototype with thePackard 1A-1500for the 1925 trials, which it won. The engine failed to live up to expectations and theO-1ordered by the Army was fitted with the 435 hp (324 kW)Curtiss V-1150(D-12) engine.[1]
The aircraft was a conventional unequal-span biplane design with wooden wings, while thefuselagewas built usingaluminumtubing with steel tie rod bracing.[2]Thelanding gearwas fixed and thetailincluded abalanced rudderwith a rear skid originally, later changed to a tailwheel.[citation needed]
The initial A-3 Falcon order was placed in the winter of 1927 and delivery of the first plane was in October 1927. A total of 76 A-3s were received. Later, six aircraft were modified as pilot trainers with dual controls and redesignated A-3A. A second batch of 78 improved A-3Bs, based on the Curtiss O-1E, was purchased beginning in 1929.[citation needed]
Operational history
editThis sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(January 2021) |
Reasonably successful as an observation aircraft, Falcons flew primarily in the1st,5th and 99th Observation Squadrons of the9th Observation Group,Mitchel Field,New York.The A-3 Attack Falcon saw considerable use, in first-line service with the 8th, 13th and 19th Attack Squadrons of the 3rd Attack Group,Barksdale Field,Louisiana,and the 26th Attack Squadron inHawaiifrom 1928 to 1934 and second-line service with reserve units until 1937.
The U.S. Navy introduced the F8C-1 and F8C-3 Falcon as a shipboard fighter in 1927–1928. They were later redesignated OC-1 and OC-2 for Marine Corps use as an observation/bomber. The F8C-4 Helldiver variant initially saw service with the Navy, and the first production batch of 25 was transferred in 1931 to the Marine Corps. A total of 34 F8Cs redesignated as O2C-1 observation aircraft were also transferred to the Naval Reserve in 1931, serving with squadrons VN-10RD9, VN-11RD9, and VN-12RD9. Most of the 63 newer F8C-5/O2C-1 Helldivers also served with the Marines, remaining in service until 1936. The type was featured in multiple Hollywood films:Flight(1929),Hell Divers(1932) andKing Kong(1933). Two non-flying replicas were built forKing Kong(2005)
Curtiss Falcon aircraft fought during theBrazilConstitutionalist Revolutionof 1932, under the flag ofSão Paulo.InBolivia,the aircraft type also fought in theChaco War(1932–1935), bombingParaguayantroops.[3][4]TheColombian Air Forceused Falcon F-8 and O-1 in theColombia-Peru Warin 1932–3.
Variants
editU.S. Army Air Corps
edit- A-3
- Model 44,attack aircraftversion of O-1B, armed with two 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns and 200 lb (91 kg) of bombs; 66 built for the USAAC.
- A-3A
- Six A-3s converted into trainers.
- A-3B
- Model 37H, attack version of O-1E, with six machine guns, including two mounted in wings; 78 built.
- XA-4
- One A-3 with aPratt & Whitney R-1340-1Wasp radial piston engine. Scrapped in March 1932, but the design was the basis for the naval variants.
- A-5
- Proposed A-3 variant withCurtiss V-1570 Conquerorengine
- A-6
- Proposed A-3 variant withCurtiss H-1640 Chieftainengine
- XBT-4
- Model 46, one O-1E converted into a basic trainer for the USAAC.
- XO-1
- Liberty 12A powered Prototype, later modified to use a Packard 1A-1500, one built.
- O-1
- Model 37A, two-seat observation aircraft, the first production model, ten built. One converted into theO-1 SpecialVIP transport.
- O-1A
- Two-seat observation aircraft, powered by the Liberty piston engine, one built.
- O-1B
- Model 37B, first major production version, powered byCurtiss D-12D(V-1150-3) engine; 45 ordered, 25 built and 20 diverted on the production line to the A-3.
- O-1C
- Four O-1Bs converted into VIP transports.
- O-1E
- Model 37I, variant powered by 435 hp (324 kW)Curtiss D-12E(V-1150-5) piston engine; 41 built.
- O-1F
- Model 37J, one O-1E converted into VIP transport.
- O-1G
- Model 38, final O-1 variant, powered by a 712 hp (531 kW)Wright R-1820F-2 Cycloneengine; 30 built for USAAC.
- XO-11
- Two O-1 modified as O-11 prototypes.
- O-11
- O-1 airframe powered by the Liberty V-1650 piston engine; 67 built concurrently with the O-1s.
- XO-12
- One XO-11 prototype redesignated XO-12.
- XO-13
- O-1 fitted with 720 hp (540 kW) Conqueror engine for the 1927National Air Races.
- XO-13A
- Second XO-13, fitted with wing skin radiators.
- O-13B
- One O-1C fitted with a Conqueror engine, tested as an observation aircraft, and provided to Secretary of War.
- YO-13C
- Three O-1Es re-engined with 600 hp (450 kW) direct-drive Conqueror engines.
- YO-13D
- One O-11 fitted with supercharged Conqueror engine.
- XO-16
- One O-11 with Prestone cooling system.
- XO-18
- One O-1B testbed forCurtiss H-1640 Chieftainengine.
- Y1O-26
- One O-1E fitted with a geared Conqueror engine.
- O-39
- O-1G refitted with a Conqueror engine and cockpit canopy; ten built.
U.S. Navy and Marine Corps
edit
- A-3 Helldiver
- Registry name of XF8C-8, not adopted by USN.
- A-4 Helldiver
- Civil version of XF8C-8 for use by Assistant Secretary of NavyDavid Ingalls.Later redesignated XF8C-7.
- XF8C-1
- Model 37C variant developed from XO-12; two built for the U.S. Navy.
- F8C-1 Falcon
- Model 37C powered by the 420 hp (310 kW)Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Waspradial piston engine; four built in 1928 for theU.S. Marine Corpsas light bombers, fighters and observation aircraft, later redesignatedOC-1.
- XF8C-2
- Model 49, one prototype for F8C Helldiver. Original crashed on first factory flight and was replaced by Curtiss with a second bearing identical sn.
- F8C-3 Falcon
- Second production batch of Navy Falcons; 21 built for USN/USMC in 1928, later redesignatedOC-2.
- XF8C-4
- Second Helldiver prototype, modified tail skid assembly.
- F8C-4 Helldiver
- Model 49B, production dive-bomber variant for the USN/USMC; 25 built, later designatedO2C.
- F8C-5 Helldiver
- Model 49B with ring cowling; 63 built in 1930–31, later designated O2C-1.
- XF8C-6
- Two F8C-5s modified with superchargers, slats, and wing flaps; one later modified as O2C-2.
- XF8C-7
- Redesignation of A-4 Helldiver, later redesignated XO2C-2.
- XF8C-8
- Two prototypes built with canopy-enclosed front cockpit, later redesignatedO2C-2.
- O2C-1 Helldiver
- Redesignation of 63 F8C-5; 30 production O2C-1s in 1931.
- O2C-2 Helldiver
- Redesignation of XF8C-8s and one XF8C-6.
- XOC-3
- One XF8C-1 prototype fitted with a Chieftain engine.
- XF10C-1
- O2C-2 re-engined with a R-1510 engine, also temporary designatedXS3C-1.
Civil and export
edit- Civil Falcon
- 20 civil versions: ConquerorMail plane;D-12 Mailplane;Lindbergh Special,sold toCharles Lindbergh;Liberty Mailplane, 14 single-seat mailplanes, powered by a Liberty piston engines, sold toNational Air Transport.
- Export Falcon
- alsoSouth American D-12 Falcon.One seaplane version of the O-1B was sold toColombia,followed by an order for 15 more. Another 10 Model 35Fs were sold toPeru.[5]
- Colombia Cyclone Falcon
- Model 37F fitted with the 712 hp (531 kW)Wright Cycloneradial piston engine. 100 built for Colombia.
- Chilean Falcon
- O-1E design built under license inChile,10 later sold toBrazil.One example ended up in Paraguay as passage fee for the remaining aircraft. It operated mostly as a VIP transport, but made at last one reconnaissance flight over the Chaco war fields armed with two 7.7 mm (0.303 in) machine-guns from a Potez.
- Bolivia Cyclone Falcon
- Similar to Colombian Falcon, it was fitted with the 712 hp (531 kW)Wright SR-1820F-2 Cycloneradial piston engine. A total of nine were built for Bolivia in some odd variants from the Colombian ones. Bolivian Cyclone Falcons mounted one frontal.30 MG and most also one rear.30 MG instead of the two wing-mounted ones. Two had semi-cockpit canopies over pilots cockpit; two had windscreens instead of canopy in both cockpits, these two had no ring mount for rear machine gun.
Operators
editMilitary operators
edit
Civil operators
edit- National Air Transportoperated 14 aircraft.
Specifications Model 37H (A-3B)
editData fromCurtiss Aircraft 1907–1947,[6]United States military aircraft since 1909[1]
General characteristics
- Crew:2
- Length:27 ft 7 in (8.41 m)
- Wingspan:38 ft 0 in (11.58 m)
- Height:10 ft 3 in (3.12 m)
- Wing area:351 sq ft (32.6 m2)
- Airfoil:Clark Y[7]
- Empty weight:2,902 lb (1,316 kg)
- Gross weight:4,476 lb (2,030 kg)
- Powerplant:×Curtiss D-12E(V-1150-5) V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 426 hp (318 kW)
- Propellers:2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed:139.4 mph (224.3 km/h, 121.1 kn)
- Cruise speed:111 mph (179 km/h, 96 kn)
- Range:647 mi (1,041 km, 562 nmi) with 100 US gal (83 imp gal; 380 L) fuel
- Service ceiling:14,400 ft (4,400 m)
- Rate of climb:948 ft/min (4.82 m/s)
Armament
- Guns:4 × forward-firing 0.30 in (7.62 mm)M1919 Browningmachine gunsand 2 × flexible 0.30 in (7.62 mm)Lewis gunson aScarff ringin the rear cockpit.
- Bombs:200 lb (91 kg) of bombs mounted on lower wing racks.
See also
editRelated lists
References
edit- ^abcSwanborough, Gordon; Bowers, Peter M. (1964).United States military aircraft since 1909(New ed.). New York: Putnam. p. 179.ISBN0-85177-816-X.
- ^abEden, Paul; Moeng, Soph, eds. (2002).The complete encyclopedia of world aircraft.London, NI 9PF: Barnes & Noble Books. p. cover.ISBN0-7607-3432-1.
{{cite book}}:CS1 maint: location (link) - ^Hagedorn, Dan; Sapienza, Antonio Luis (2000).Aircraft of the Chaco War.Schiffer Pub. p. 144.ISBN0-7643-0146-2.
- ^Corum, James S. (3 February 2003)."O Poder Aéreo na Guerra do Chaco"[Air Power in the Chaco War].Air & Space Power Journal(in Portuguese). Archived fromthe originalon 18 February 2017.Retrieved12 April2019.
- ^Bowers 1979,p. 311.
- ^Bowers, Peter M. (1979).Curtiss aircraft, 1907–1947.London: Putnam. pp. 292–302.ISBN0370100298.
- ^Lednicer, David."The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage".m-selig.ae.illinois.edu.Retrieved16 April2019.
Bibliography
edit- Layman, R. D. (1993). "Question 15/91: Early USN Aircraft".Warship International.XXX(3): 318.ISSN0043-0374.
- Hagedorn, Dan (March–May 1992). "Curtiss Types in Latin America".Air Enthusiast.No. 45. pp. 61–77.ISSN0143-5450.
- Hagedorn, Dan and Antonio Luis Sapienza.Aircraft of the Chaco War.Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2000.ISBN0-7643-0146-2.
External links
edit
- Curtiss A-3 fact sheet on National Museum of the USAF website
- Curtiss A-3B fact sheet on National Museum of the USAF website
- Curtiss FalconsArchived2017-07-01 at theWayback MachineHistory and specifications from the reference bookAmerican Combat Planes of the 20th Centuryby Ray Wagner
- "The West Point Of The Air" "Popular Mechanics,June 1930—photos pages 936 (middle), 939 (top) and 940 (bottom)