Curtiss CT
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=Curtiss CT-1 | image=Curtiss CT-1.jpg | caption=The CT-1 at the Anacostia Navy Yard }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=Torpedo Bomber | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company | designer=Wilbur Gilmore | first flight=9 May 1921 | introduced= | retired= | status= | primary user= | more users= | produced= | number built=1 | program cost= | unit cost= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Curtiss CT-1 (or Curtiss Model 24), a twin engine torpedo bomber mounted on floats, was first flown in 1921.{{cite book|title=United States navy aircraft since 1911|author=Gordon Swanborough, Peter M. Bowers}}
Development
The US Navy was looking for a new torpedo bomber following a demonstration of sinking a battleship with an aircraft. A specification was announced requiring a twin floatplane that could be sled launched and crane recovered at sea. The aircraft had a maximum span of {{convert|65|ft|m}} which could be broken down into {{convert|25|ft|m}} sections for shipboard storage.{{cite journal|journal=Skyways|title=Pushing the state of the art The Curtiss CT|date=October 1995}} Prototypes of the Curtiss CT-1, Stout ST-1, Fokker FT-1 and Blackburn Swift F were evaluated at the Anacostia Naval Yard.{{cite book|title=McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920|author=René J. Francillon}} Curtiss won an initial contract to build nine torpedo bombers on June 30, 1920, but the order was canceled and only one acceptance prototype was built. The aircraft was constructed in Rockaway, New York.{{cite book|title=Proceedings, Volume 48, Part 2 By United States Naval Institute|page=1062}}
Design
The aircraft had twin booms, twin tails, twin floats and a single cockpit. A turret was placed high above and behind the pilot to have a full 360 degree firing arc. The thick airfoil wings were cantilevered without struts or wires using three spars.{{cite web |url=http://www.aero-web.org/specs/curtiss/ct-1.htm |title=Aircraft: Curtiss CT-1 |access-date=2010-09-14 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403011018/http://www.aero-web.org/specs/curtiss/ct-1.htm |archive-date=2012-04-03 }} The fuselage was made of traditional welded tube frame with the-then new technology of an aluminum skin. The rest of the aircraft was of welded tube with a fabric covering. The engine nacelles were deeply recessed into the wings. Two under-wing Lamblin radiators provided cooling. Engine stands were located for mechanics to work on the aircraft. Single-engine operation resulted in a height loss of 100 ft per minute.{{cite book|title=Naval Institute proceedings, Volume 48|page= 665}}[http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1922/1922%20-%200137.html "The Curtiss Twin-Engined Torpedo Seaplane"] FLIGHT, March 2, 1922, photo and texts
Operational history
The first water taxi tests were performed by Bert Acosta on 2 May 1921 at NAS Rockaway, resulting in larger rudders added for stability. The sheet metal formed motor mounts and tail structure required reinforcement. The engines overheated, and could only fly for 20 minutes at a time.{{cite journal|journal=Skyways|title=Pushing the state of the art The Curtiss CT|date=October 1995}}
The aircraft was demonstrated to the US Navy at the Annacostia Naval Yard and at the war college at Fort McNair, Washington, D.C. The aircraft was given the serial number A-5890, and the navy designation CT-1, for "Curtiss" "Torpedo bomber (number one)"-"variant one".{{cite book|title=McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920|author=René J. Francillon}}
Specifications Curtiss CT-1
File:Curtiss CT Aircraft Yearbook 1922.png
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947{{Harvnb|Bowers|1979|pp=182–183}}
|prime units?=kts
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|crew=3
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|length ft=46
|length in=0
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|span ft=65
|span in=0
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|height m=
|height ft=14
|height in=6
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=830
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=Curtiss C-32{{cn|date=October 2019}}
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=7684
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|gross weight lb=11208
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|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Curtiss D-12
|eng1 type=water-cooled V12 engines
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=435
|eng1 note=
|prop blade number=2
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|max speed mph=107
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|range km=
|range miles=350
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|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=5200
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|time to altitude=10 min to {{convert|2600|ft|m|abbr=on}}
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|guns= 1 or 2 Lewis guns
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See also
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References
{{commons category|Curtiss CT-1|Curtiss CT}}
;Notes
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- {{cite book |last=Bowers |first=Peter M. |author-link=Peter M. Bowers |title=Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947 |year=1979 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0-370-10029-8 }}
{{USN torpedo aircraft}}
{{Curtiss aircraft}}
Category:1920s United States bomber aircraft