Curtiss Model S
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
| name=Model S | image=Curtiss S-3 (Cropped) from national archive image 165-WW-19C-5.jpg | caption=Curtiss S-3 }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type | type=fighter | national origin=United States | manufacturer=Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company | designer= | first flight= | introduced= | retired= | status= | primary user= | number built= | developed from= | variants with their own articles= }} |
The Curtiss Model S (also known as Speed Scout or Model 10) was a single-seat fighter aircraft.Angelucci, 1987. pp. 112-113.
Development and design
The Model S was Curtiss' first attempt at a fast and maneuverable single-seat fighter. The first variant, S-1, had disappointing performance. In March 1917, new wings were attached to the S-1 fuselage and the project was redesignated S-2. In 1917, the S-3 became the first triplane in service in the United States. In 1918 and 1919, Curtiss experimented with seaplane versions of the S-3, designated S-4 and S-5. The S-6 was intended to be an improved S-3, but performance was poor and of the 12 ordered by the USASC, only 1 was delivered.
Variants
File:Curtiss S-1 - 4th July LCCN2014707556.tiff
;S-1 Speed Scout: Biplane, unarmed
;S-2 Wireless :File:Curtiss S-2 Wireless Speed Scout left front Aviation and Aeronautical Engineering August 15,1916.jpgBiplane, updated S-1 lacked wing wires. First flight in March 1917.
;S-3 : Model 10 - Triplane derived from S-2. Four built.Bowers 1979, p.133.
;S-4 : Model 10A - Seaplane version of S-3 with 2 main floats
;S-5 : Model 10B - Seaplane version of S-3 with 1 main central float and two wingtip floats.
;S-6 : Model 10C - Triplane, improved S-3
Specifications (S-3)
{{Aircraft specs
|prime units? = imp
|crew=1
|length m=5.94
|length ft=19
|length in=6
|span m=7.62
|span ft=25
|span in=0
|height m=2.62
|height ft=8
|height in=7
|wing area sqm=13.25
|wing area sqft=142.6
|empty weight kg=440
|empty weight lb=970
|gross weight kg=599
|gross weight lb=1,320
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Curtiss OXX-3
|eng1 kw=75
|eng1 hp=100
|max speed kmh=185
|max speed mph=115
|ceiling m=5,029
|ceiling ft=16,500
}}
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References
{{commons category|Curtiss S-3}}
{{Reflist}}
;Bibliography
- {{cite book |last= Angelucci |first= Enzo |title=The American Fighter from 1917 to the present |year=1987 |publisher=Orion Books |location=New York }}
- {{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 }}
{{Curtiss aircraft}}
Category:1910s United States fighter aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft