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 Wrong Way 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 90–185hp (67–138kW).

Operational history

The aircraft Curtiss Robin "St. Louis" (right) during a record endurance flight 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 110hp (82kW) 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 380 miles (610km) daily, dropping bundles of newspapers from a height of 500 feet (150m) to local carriers.

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 165hp (123kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine.

Comet Robin

One Robin was converted by its owner in 1937, fitted with a 150hp (110kW) Comet 7-D radial piston engine.

Robin

(Model 50A) Prototypes and initial production aircraft powered by 90hp (67kW) Curtiss OX-5 engines.

Robin B

A three-seat cabin monoplane, fitted with wheel brakes and a steerable tailwheel, powered by a 90hp (67kW) Curtiss OX-5 V-8 engine; about 325 were built.

Robin B-2

A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 150–180hp (110–130kW) Wright-Hisso "A","E" and "I" V-8 water-cooled piston engine.

Robin C

A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 170hp (130kW) or 185hp (138kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; about 50 built.

1929 Curtis Robin C-1 used for the movie Pearl (modified with an Lycoming R-680)

Robin C-1

(Model 50C) An improved version of the Robin C, powered by a 185hp (138kW) 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 170hp (130kW) 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 225hp (168kW) Wright J-6-7 Whirlwind engine.

Robin CR

A one-off experimental version, fitted with a 120hp (89kW) Curtiss Crusader engine.

Robin J-1

(Model 50H) Powered by a 165hp (123kW) Wright J-6-5 Whirlwind radial piston engine; about 40 built.

Robin J-2

(Model 50I) A long-range version, with 80USgal (67impgal; 300L) 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 115hp (86kW) Milwaukee Tank V-502 V-8 engine (air-cooled OX-5 conversions).

Robin W

(Model 50J) Powered by a 110hp (82kW) Warner Scarab radial piston engine. Only a small number were built in 1930.

The XC-10 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 110hp (82kW) Warner R-420-1.

Operators

Military operators

Paraguay

United States

Surviving aircraft

Curtis Robin B-2 display

Australia

Brazil

Canada

Costa Rica

Germany

United States

Curtiss Robin at the Air Zoo

Specifications (Robin OX-5)

Curtiss Robin 3-view drawing from Aero Digest October 1928

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947, Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 2 pax / 425lb (193kg) payload
  • Length: 25ft 9in (7.85m)
  • Wingspan: 41ft 0in (12.5m)
  • Height: 7ft 10in (2.4m)
  • Wing area: 262.5sqft (24.39m2)
  • Airfoil: Curtiss C-72
  • Empty weight: 1,475lb (669kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,175lb (987kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 50USgal (42impgal; 190L) fuel; 5USgal (4.2impgal; 19L) oil
  • Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss OX-5 V-8 water-cooled piston engine, 90hp (67kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 99.7mph (160.5km/h, 86.6kn)
  • Cruise speed: 85mph (137km/h, 74kn)
  • Landing speed: 45mph (39kn; 72km/h)
  • Range: 785mi (1,263km, 682nmi) cruising; 580mi (500nmi; 930km) at full throttle
  • Service ceiling: 12,500ft (3,800m)
  • Rate of climb: 450ft/min (2.3m/s)
  • Time to altitude: 3,800ft (1,200m) in 10 minutes
  • Wing loading: 8.2lb/sqft (40kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.0465hp/lb (0.0764kW/kg)

See also

Related development

Related lists

Bibliography

  • Hagedorn, Dan (March–May 1992). "Curtiss Types in Latin America". Air Enthusiast. No.45. pp.61–77. ISSN.

External links