Curtiss Robin#Survivors
{{Short description|American monoplane introduced in 1928}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = Curtiss Robin
|image =Curtiss Robin 1.JPG
|caption =A Curtiss Robin in The Museum of Flight, Tukwila Washington, 2011
|type = Touring
|manufacturer = Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company
|designer =
|first_flight = 7 August 1928{{cite book|last1=Eden|first1=Paul|last2=Moeng|first2=Soph|title=The complete encyclopedia of world aircraft|date=2002|publisher=Barnes & Noble Books|location=New York, NY |url=http://images.barnesandnoble.com/images/5490000/5496066.gif|isbn=0-7607-3432-1}}
|introduction = 1928
|retired =
|status = A number still flying
|primary_user = U. S. Private Owner Market
|more_users =
|produced =
|unit cost = {{AircraftCost|USA|7500|year=1938}}
|variants =
}}
The Curtiss Robin, introduced in 1928, is an American high-wing monoplane built by the Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company.
The J-1 version was flown by Wrongway Corrigan who crossed the Atlantic after being refused permission to do so.
Design
The Robin, a workmanlike cabin monoplane, had a wooden wing and steel tubing fuselage. The cabin accommodated three persons; two passengers were seated side-by-side behind the pilot. Early Robins were distinguished by large flat fairings over the parallel diagonal wing bracing struts; the fairings were abandoned on later versions, having been found to be ineffective in creating lift. The original landing gear had bungee rubber cord shock absorbers, later replaced by an oleo-pneumatic system; a number of Robins had twin floats added. Variants of the Robin were fitted with engines which developed {{cvt|90|-|185|hp}}.
Operational history
File:Curtiss Robin St Louis 1929.jpg 13-30 July 1929, at St. Louis, Missouri, flown by Dale Jackson and Forest O'Brine for 17 days, 12 hours, 17 minutes]]
A single modified Robin (with a {{convert|110|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Warner R-420-1) was used by the United States Army Air Corps, and designated the XC-10. This aircraft was used in a test program for radio-controlled (and unmanned) flight.
Cuba's national airline, Compañía Nacional Cubana de Aviación Curtiss, was founded in 1929 with the Curtiss-Wright company serving as its co-founder and major investor. The airline's first aircraft was a Curtiss Robin and it was flown on domestic routes as a mail and passenger transport.
From September 1929 to May 1930 a Robin C-1 was used to deliver the McCook, Nebraska Daily Gazette to communities in rural Nebraska and Kansas. The airplane flew a nonstop route of {{convert|380|mi}} daily, dropping bundles of newspapers from a height of {{convert|500|ft}} to local carriers.{{cite web|title=Curtiss-Robertson Robin C-1|url=http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/curtiss-robertson-robin-c-1|website=www.museumofflight.org|publisher=Museum of flight|access-date=16 February 2018|language=en}}
A Curtiss Robin C was purchased by the Paraguayan government in 1932 for the transport squadron of its air arm. It was intensively used as a VIP transport plane and air ambulance during the Chaco War (1932–1935).
Variants (Model 50)
Data from:Curtiss aircraft : 1907-1947
;Challenger Robin: (Model 50A) An early version of the Robin, powered by a {{cvt|165|hp}} Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine.
;Comet Robin: One Robin was converted by its owner in 1937, fitted with a {{cvt|150|hp}} Comet 7-D radial piston engine.
;Robin: (Model 50A) Prototypes and initial production aircraft powered by {{cvt|90|hp}} Curtiss OX-5 engines.
;Robin B: A three-seat cabin monoplane, fitted with wheel brakes and a steerable tailwheel, powered by a {{cvt|90|hp}} Curtiss OX-5 V-8 engine; about 325 were built.
;Robin B-2: A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a {{cvt|150|-|180|hp}} Wright-Hisso "A","E" and "I" V-8 water-cooled piston engine.
;Robin C: A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a {{cvt|170|hp}} or {{cvt|185|hp}} Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; about 50 built.
;Robin C-1: (Model 50C) An improved version of the Robin C, powered by a {{cvt|185|hp}} Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; over 200 built.
;Robin C-2: (Model 50D) A long-range version fitted with an extra fuel tank, powered by a {{cvt|170|hp}} Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; six built.
;Robin 4C: (Model 50E) A four-seat version, powered by a Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; one built.
;Robin 4C-1: A three-seat version with an enlarged forward fuselage section; three built.
;Robin 4C-1A: (Model 50G) Another four-seat version with an enlarged forward fuselage section; 11 built.
;Robin 4C-2: A single un-certified version powered by a {{cvt|225|hp}} Wright J-6-7 Whirlwind engine.
;Robin CR: A one-off experimental version, fitted with a {{cvt|120|hp}} Curtiss Crusader engine.
;Robin J-1: (Model 50H) Powered by a {{cvt|165|hp}} Wright J-6-5 Whirlwind radial piston engine; about 40 built.
;Robin J-2: (Model 50I) A long-range version, with {{cvt|80|USgal|impgal l}} fuel. Two were built
;Robin J-3: A J-1 temporarily designated J-3, which reverted to the J-1 designation after being de-modified.
;Robin M: A Robin B aircraft, fitted with the {{cvt|115|hp}} Milwaukee Tank V-502 V-8 engine (air-cooled OX-5 conversions).
;Robin W: (Model 50J) Powered by a {{cvt|110|hp}} Warner Scarab radial piston engine. Only a small number were built in 1930.
;XC-10: One Robin W was sold to the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) and converted into an unmanned pilot-less radio-controlled test aircraft, powered by a {{cvt|110|hp}} Warner R-420-1.
Operators
=Military operators=
Surviving aircraft
=Australia=
=Brazil=
=Canada=
- 405 – C-1 on display at the Reynolds-Alberta Museum in Wetaskiwin, Alberta.{{cite web |title=Aviation |url=http://reynoldsmuseum.ca/aviation |website=Reynolds Museum |access-date=14 June 2020}}{{Failed verification|date=June 2020}}
=Costa Rica=
- C-1 on display at the Juan Santamaría International Airport domestic terminal in Alajuela, Costa Rica.
=Germany=
- 130 – J-1 airworthy with Antique Aeroflyers in Mengen, Baden-Württemberg.{{cite web |title=Curtiss Robin J-1 |url=http://www.antique-aeroflyers.de/Robin.htm |website=Antique Aeroflyers |access-date=30 July 2018 |language=de |date=28 February 2013}}{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N292E] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N292E |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731031723/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N292E |url-status=dead }}
=United States=
File:Air Zoo December 2019 045 (Curtiss Robin).jpg]]
- 193 – B airworthy at the Fantasy of Flight in Polk City, Florida.{{cite web |title=1929 Curtiss Robin |url=http://www.fantasyofflight.com/collection/aircraft/currently-not-showing-in-museum/golden-age/1929-curtiss-robin |website=Fantasy of Flight |date=17 September 2013 |access-date=30 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Curtiss B Robin, c/n 193, c/r N8313 |url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=61044 |website=Aerial Visuals |publisher=AerialVisuals.ca |access-date=30 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N8313] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N8313 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730234741/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N8313 |url-status=dead }}
- 213 – B airworthy at the Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon.{{cite web |title=Curtiss Robertson Robin B |url=http://www.waaamuseum.org/collections/airplanes/212-Curtiss-Robertson-Robin-B |website=Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum |publisher=WAAAM |access-date=30 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N8332] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N8332 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730235104/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N8332 |url-status=dead }}
- 329 – B-1 on static display at the San Diego Air & Space Museum in San Diego, California.{{cite web |title=Curtiss B-1 Robin |url=http://sandiegoairandspace.org/collection/item/curtiss-b-1-robin |website=San Diego Air & Space Museum |access-date=31 July 2018}}
- 337 – C-1 on static display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.{{cite web |title=General Aviation |url=http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/general-aviation |website=Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum |publisher=Evergreen Museum |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=3 October 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161003044600/http://www.evergreenmuseum.org/general-aviation |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=Airframe Dossier - Curtiss C-1 Robin, c/r NC9283 |url=http://aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=70428 |website=Aerial Visuals |publisher=AerialVisuals.ca |access-date=30 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N9283] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N9283 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731031839/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N9283 |url-status=dead }}
- 403 – B-2 on display at the EAA Aviation Museum in Oshkosh, Wisconsin.{{cite web |title=1929 Curtiss-Wright Model B-2 Robin - N50H |url=http://www.eaa.org/en/eaa-museum/museum-collection/aircraft-collection-folder/1929-curtiss-wright-model-b-2-robin---n50h |website=EAA |access-date=30 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N50H] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N50H |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731031404/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N50H |url-status=dead }}
- 469 – C-1 on display at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.{{cite web |title=Curtiss C-1 Robin |url=http://yanksair.org/collection/curtiss-c-1-robin |website=Yanks Air Museum |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=21 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121143103/https://yanksair.org/collection/curtiss-c-1-robin/ |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N3865B] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=3865B |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730234932/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=3865B |url-status=dead }}
- 628 – C-1 on static display at the Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington.{{cite web |title=Curtiss-Robertson Robin C-1 |url=http://www.museumofflight.org/aircraft/curtiss-robertson-robin-c-1 |website=The Museum of Flight |access-date=31 July 2018}}
- 712 – 4C-1A on display at the Western North Carolina Air Museum in Hendersonville, North Carolina.{{cite web |title=1930 CURTISS ROBIN 4C-1A |url=http://www.westernnorthcarolinaairmuseum.com/1930-curtiss-robin-4c-1a.html |website=Western North Carolina Air Museum |access-date=30 July 2018}}{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N563N] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N563N |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731031846/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N563N |url-status=dead }}
- 733 – J-1D on display at the Shannon Air Museum in Fredericksburg, Virginia.{{cite news |last1=Sullivan |first1=Paul |title=Antique planes and other items coming home to Shannon Airport |url=http://www.fredericksburg.com/news/local/antique-planes-and-other-items-coming-home-to-shannon-airport/article_ed8a7ef1-8724-5fad-989d-db4fcecc2064.html |access-date=31 July 2018 |work=Fredericksburg.com |publisher=BH Media Group, Inc. |date=15 November 2016}}{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N532N] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N532N |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=31 July 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731062154/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N532N |url-status=dead }} It was previously on display at the Virginia Aviation Museum.{{cite web |title=Virginia Aviation Museum Historic Aircraft |url=http://www.vam.smv.org/pdfs/VAMHistoricAircraft.pdf |website=Virginia Aviation Museum |access-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160512210401/http://www.vam.smv.org/pdfs/VAMHistoricAircraft.pdf |archive-date=12 May 2016}}
- 737 – J-1 airworthy with Brian T. Coughlin of Cazenovia, New York.{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N534N] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N534N |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180730235109/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N534N |url-status=dead }} It is based at Old Rhinebeck Aerodrome.{{citation needed|date=July 2018}}
- J-1 Ole Miss (US registration NR526N) on static display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. that set the aviation endurance record in 1935 (continuously airborne June 4-July 1), which it held for 4 years.{{cite web |title=Curtiss Robin J-1 Deluxe "Ole Miss" |url=http://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/curtiss-robin-j-1-deluxe |website=Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum |publisher=Smithsonian Institution |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731093131/https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/curtiss-robin-j-1-deluxe |url-status=dead }}
- On static display at the Cradle of Aviation Museum in Garden City, New York. It has floats in place of wheeled landing gear.{{cite book |last1=Stoff |first1=Joshua |title=The Historic Aircraft and Spacecraft in the Cradle of Aviation Museum |date=2001 |publisher=Dover Publications |location=Mineola, New York |page=23 }}
- On display at the Air Zoo in Portage, Michigan.{{cite web |title=East Campus Aircraft |url=http://www.airzoo.org/page.php?page_id=109 |website=Air Zoo |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731031750/https://www.airzoo.org/page.php?page_id=109 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |title=FAA REGISTRY [N7912] |url=http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N7912 |website=Federal Aviation Administration |publisher=U.S. Department of Transportation |access-date=30 July 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731031448/http://registry.faa.gov/aircraftinquiry/NNum_Results.aspx?NNumbertxt=N7912 |url-status=dead }}{{cite news |last1=Zerilli |first1=Ursula |title=Air Zoo acquires 1928 Curtiss Robin high-wing monoplane |url=http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2012/10/air_zoo_acquires_1928_curtiss.html |access-date=30 July 2018 |work=MLive |publisher=Advance Local Media LLC |date=4 October 2012}}
- On display at the Eagles Mere Air Museum in Eagles Mere, Pennsylvania.{{cite web |title=1928 Curtiss Robin |url=http://eaglesmereairmuseum.org/robin.shtml |website=Eagles Mere Air Museum |access-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012145144/http://eaglesmereairmuseum.org/robin.shtml |archive-date=12 October 2017}}
- On static display at the Glenn H. Curtiss Museum in Hammondsport, New York.{{cite web |title=Aircraft |url=http://www.glennhcurtissmuseum.org/aircraft.php |website=Glenn H. Curtiss Museum |access-date=31 July 2018}}
- On display at the Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum in Maryland Heights, Missouri.{{cite web |title=Museum Hangar 2 |url=http://www.historicaircraftrestorationmuseum.org/museumhangar2.html |website=Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum |access-date=31 July 2018}}
- Under restoration at the Candler Field Museum in Williamson, Georgia.{{cite web |title=Candler Field Museum |url=http://www.peachstateaero.com/museum |website=Peach State Aerodrome |access-date=31 July 2018 |archive-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180731062515/http://www.peachstateaero.com/museum |url-status=dead }} Now owned and operated by Capt. Buerk’s Living History Museum in New Hampshire.
- Under restoration at the Port Townsend Aero Museum in Port Townsend, Washington.{{cite web |title=1929 Curtiss "Robin" |url=http://www.ptaeromuseum.com/aircraft_projects/curtiss_robin/curtissrobinc1.html |website=Port Townsend Aero Museum |access-date=31 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718051438/http://www.ptaeromuseum.com/aircraft_projects/curtiss_robin/curtissrobinc1.html |archive-date=18 July 2015 |url-status=dead }}
Specifications (Robin OX-5)
File:Curtiss_Robin_3-view_Aero_Digest_October_1928.jpg
{{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=0-370-10029-8|pages=172, 377–86}} Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928{{cite book |title=Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928 |editor1-last=Grey |editor1-first=C.G. |year=1928 |publisher=Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd |location=London |pages=18d–19d}}
|prime units?=imp
|crew=1
|capacity=2 pax / {{cvt|425|lb}} payload
|length m=7.85
|span m=12.5
|height m=2.4
|wing area sqft=262.5
|aspect ratio=
|empty weight lb=1475
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=2175
|fuel capacity={{cvt|50|USgal|impgal l}} fuel; {{cvt|5|USgal|impgal l}} oil
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Curtiss OX-5
|eng1 type=V-8 water-cooled piston engine
|eng1 hp=90
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=fixed pitch propeller
|prop dia m=
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed mph=99.7
|cruise speed mph=85
|cruise speed note=
- Landing speed: {{cvt|45|mph|kn km/h}}
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|range miles=785
|range note=cruising; {{cvt|580|mi|nmi km}} at full throttle
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling ft=12500
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ftmin=450
|time to altitude= {{cvt|3800|ft}} in 10 minutes
|wing loading lb/sqft=8.2
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.0465|hp/lb|kW/kg}}
|thrust/weight=
|more performance=
}}
See also
{{aircontent|
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|sequence=
|lists=
|see also=
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References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite magazine|last=Hagedorn|first=Dan|title=Curtiss Types in Latin America|magazine=Air Enthusiast|date=March–May 1992|issue=45 |pages=61–77 |issn=0143-5450}}
External links
{{commons category|Curtiss Robin}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20150704105807/http://eaa231.org/Museum/Robin/Robin.htm Virginia Aircraft Museum]
- [http://www.airminded.net/curtrob/curtrob.html Airminded.net]
- [https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/curtiss-robin-j-1-deluxe Curtiss Robin J-1 Deluxe "Ole Miss"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180829130903/https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/curtiss-robin-j-1-deluxe |date=2018-08-29 }}
- [https://airandspace.si.edu/collections/search/robin] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180831035524/https://airandspace.si.edu/collections/search/robin |date=2018-08-31 }}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20110224201623/http://www.moxon.org/aircraft/robin.htm A Curtiss Robin is rebuilt from an empty frame]
- [http://www.fiddlersgreen.net/models/Aircraft/Curtiss-Robin.html A brief story of "Wrongway" Corrigan's adventure]
{{Curtiss aircraft}}
{{USAF transports}}
Category:1920s United States civil utility aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft