Curtiss CR
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name= Model 23, CR, R-6
|image= Curtiss CR-1 with B Acosta 1921.jpg
|caption= The CR-1 with Bert Acosta, 1921
|type= Racing aircraft
|manufacturer= Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
|designer=
|first_flight= 1 August 1921
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user= United States Navy
|more_users=
|produced=
|number_built= 4
|variants=
}}
The Curtiss CR was a racing aircraft designed for the United States Navy in 1921 by Curtiss. It was a conventional single-seater biplane with a monocoque fuselage and staggered single-bay wings of equal span braced with N-struts. Two essentially similar landplane versions were built as the CR-1 and CR-2, which were both eventually converted to seaplanes as the CR-3 in 1923 and CR-4 in 1924. A refined version was developed for the US Army Air Service under the designation R-6. These latter two aircraft featured refined aerodynamics included surface-mounted radiators.
Operational history
The Curtiss CRs enjoyed successful racing careers. Their first major win was at the 1921 Pulitzer Trophy race, where piloted by Bert Acosta the CR-1 took first place with an average speed of 176.75 mph (283.49 km/h), nearly two minutes ahead of its closest rival. The following year, this aircraft was modified and redesignated CR-2 and joined in the Pulitzer race by a second aircraft built to the same new standard, plus two R-6s flown by Army pilots. These Curtiss aircraft took first through fourth place, the two R-6s followed by the two CR-2s. The race was won by Lt. Russell Maughan with an average speed of 205.856 mph (330.172 km/h) with Lt. Lester Maitland in second place (198.850 mph/318.936 km/h). Maughan's effort incidentally broke every closed-circuit airspeed record up to 124 mi (200 km). The CR-2s took third and fourth places piloted by Lt Harold Brow (average speed 193.695 mph/310.667 km/h) and Lt Jg Al Williams (average speed 187.996 mph/301.527 km/h).
The Army built upon this success with the R-6s by using the aircraft to break the world airspeed record before 1922 was over, Gen Billy Mitchell flying one to 224.28 mph (359.72 km/h) on 18 October. In March the following year, an R-6 flown by Lt. Maughan lifted the record to 236.587 mph (380.74 km/h). The R-6 design was developed in 1923 into the longer-winged XPW-8, the prototype of the PW-8 fighter.
In 1923, the CR-2s were fitted with floats for the Schneider Trophy race and redesignated CR-3. The aircraft took first and second place, piloted by David Rittenhouse (average speed {{cvt|177.977|mph|kn km/h}} and Rutledge Irvine {{cvt|173.932|mph|kn km/h}}. After the 1924 Schneider Trophy race was cancelled, CR-3 A6081 was flown by Lt. G.T. Cuuddihy to set up new World's closed-course seaplane record oc {{cvt|188.07|mph|kn km/h}}.
A6081 was further modified as the CR-4 for use as a test-bed and trainer for the 1926 Schneider Trophy racing team.
Variants
;CR-1: the first CR with US Navy serial A6080, with Lamblin radiators between the undercarriage struts.
;CR-2: the second CR A6081, fitted with streamlined wheels and wing surface radiators.
;CR-3: both A6080 and A6081 were converted to CR-3 standard with floats and {{cvt|475|hp}} Curtis D-12 5PL engines.
;CR-4: CR-3 A6081, modified as a test-bed and trainer for the 1926 Schneider Trophy race team.
Operators
;{{USA}}
- United States Navy (CR)
- United States Army (R6)
Specifications (CR-3 Seaplane)
File:LT David Rittenhouse (center) Cowes, England Sep1923.jpg, England September 1923.]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947{{cite book |last1=Bowers |first1=Peter M. |title=Curtiss aircraft, 1907–1947 |date=1979 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0370100298 |pages=228–232}}
|prime units?=imp
|crew=1
|length ft=25
|length in=0.375
|length note=
|span ft=22
|span in=8
|span note=
|height ft=10
|height in=9
|height note=
|wing area sqft=168
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|empty weight lb=2119
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=2746
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Curtiss D-12 5PL
|eng1 type=V-12 water-cooled piston engine
|eng1 hp=475
|eng1 note=at 2,300 rpm
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=Curtiss-Reed
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=forged Aluminium fixed-pitch propeller
|max speed mph=194
|max speed note=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=281
|range note=at full throttle
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling ft=22000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}
;Bibliography
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |pages=796 }}
- {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 891, Sheet 45 }}
{{refend}}
External links
{{commons category|Curtiss CR}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20031120182719/http://www.hydroretro.net/coupeen/1923.htm hydroretro.net]
- [http://www.airracinghistory.freeola.com/Pulitzer%20Trophy%20Races.htm airracinghistory.freeola.com]
{{Curtiss aircraft}}
{{USAAS racing aircraft}}
{{USN racing aircraft}}
Category:1920s United States sport aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft