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Страна: США

Год: 1918

Fighter

P.Bowers Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947 (Putnam)

Model 18 Series (Model 15)

   In March 1918, the Navy authorized Curtiss to build two two-seat fighter triplanes designed at Garden City by Curtiss engineer Charles Kirkham, Navy serial numbers A3325 and A3326. Unit prices were $55,400 less GFE. Although these were identified in service as Model 18T (for triplane) and were also known as Curtiss-Kirkhams, they carried the Curtiss engineering designation of Experimental 502.
   The 18 was designed specifically for the 400 hp Curtiss-Kirkham K-12 engine, a water-cooled geared V-12 type of somewhat unorthodox construction developed late in 1917. The K-12 gave the Model 18 world-record performance in 1918 and evolved into the C-12 and eventually into the D-12 and the Conqueror.
   The fuselage was a well-streamlined structure featuring a combination of previous Curtiss flying-boat practice and German laminated wood veneer construction in a new process called Curtiss ply. The nose was kept as streamlined as possible by mounting the radiators on the sides of the fuselage. Armament was a pair of .30-calibre Marlin machine-guns on the nose, a pair of .30-calibre Lewis guns on the rear cockpit Scarff ring, and a single Lewis firing out of the belly.

18T-1 Wasp - Kirkham chose the triplane configuration for his new fighter because the shorter span would enhance the manoeuvrability. The -1 was added to the designation after alternate wings of longer span became available on a -2 version. In all configurations, the 18T was known as the Wasp but, because of the sound of its wires during landing approaches, it was known around Garden City as Whistling Benny.
   For its first flight, on 5 July, 1918, the 18T had straight wings; tail heaviness was soon corrected by sweeping the wings back five degrees. The Army became interested in the design and arranged to borrow the first one from the Navy. Tests with full military load in August 1915 produced a top speed of 163 mph (262,3 km/h), making the 18T the world's fastest aeroplane at the time even though the record was not recognized. The Army then ordered two 18Ts of its own with Army serial numbers 40054 and 40059.
   No Navy production orders were received for the 18T; its hand-built engine was more experimental than the aeroplane itself and the end of the war killed any requirement for it as a Service type.
   The speed of the 18T-1 was put to good use, however, since the Navy entered both examples in postwar air races. Both were flown in the 1920 Pulitzer Trophy Race but dropped out because of engine trouble. As single-float seaplanes, both were entered in the 1922 Curtiss Marine Trophy Race. A3325 (painted green, Race No.5) dropped out with engine trouble and A3326 (painted yellow, Race No.4) was in the lead when it ran out of fuel just short of the finishing line. As landplanes again, both were entered in the 1923 Liberty Engine Builder's Trophy Race for Service two-seaters. A3325 crashed during a trial flight and A3326 (Race No.3) broke its crankshaft during the race and was destroyed.
   The first of the two Army 18T-1s was delivered to McCook Field for static test in February 1919.

18T-2 - Since the Navy had no urgent need for both 18s after the Armistice, A3325 was left at Garden City for further testing. A longer set of wings, with two bays of struts and a span of 40 ft 7 1/2 in (12,25 m), was fitted, creating the 18T-2 designation. On 18 September, 1919, Curtiss test pilot Roland Rholfs set a new world's altitude record of 34,910 ft (10,640 m) with this aircraft. Fitted with floats, A3325 also set a world's seaplane altitude record.
   In 1919, Curtiss built a fifth 18T as a civil aeroplane. Fitted with long wings, it was sold to Bolivia, where it became the first aeroplane to fly from the capital city of La Paz at an elevation of 13,500 ft (4,115 m). After consistent performance there it crashed on 19 May, 1921.

18B Hornet (Model 15A) - After introducing the 18T, Curtiss offered the same design with more conventional two-bay biplane wings and designated it 19B. This was known as Experimental 510 but was publicized as the Hornet. The Army ordered two in August 1915, with Army serial numbers 40058 and 40064. The first was delivered for static test in June 1919; the flight test aircraft crashed soon after delivery.


Model 18

Model 18T-1 - Fighter/Observation landplane. Pilot and gunner/observer. 400 hp Curtiss K-12.
   Span 32 ft (9,75 m); length 23 ft 4 in (7,11 m); height 10 ft 2 in (3,09 m); wing area 288 sq ft (26,75 sq m).
   Empty weight 1,980 lb (898 kg); gross weight 3,050 lb (1,383 kg).
   Maximum speed 163 mph (262,31 km/h); climb in 10 min - 12,500 ft (3,810 m): service ceiling 23,000 ft (7,010 m); endurance 5,9 hr.
   Armament - two fixed Marlin and three flexible Lewis machine-guns.

Model 18T-2 - Fighter/Observation seaplane. Pilot and gunner/observer. 400 hp Curtiss K-12.
   Span 40 ft 7 1/2 in (12,25 m); length 28 ft 3 7/8 in (8,63 m); height 12 ft (3,65 m); wing area 400 sq ft (37,16 sq m).
   Empty weight 2,417 lb (1,096 kg); gross weight 3,572 lb (1,620 kg).
   Maximum speed 139 mph (223,69 km/h); climb in 10 min - 10,400 ft (3,170 m); service ceiling 21,000 ft (6,400 m).
   Armament - one fixed Marlin and one flexible Lewis machine-gun.

Model 18B - Fighter/Observation landplane. Pilot and observer/gunner. 400 hp Curtiss K-12.
   Span 37 ft 6 in (11,43 m); length 23 ft 4 in (7,11 m); wing area 306 sq ft (28,42 sq m).
   Empty weight 1,690 lb (766 kg); gross weight 2,867 lb (1,300 kg).
   Armament - two fixed Marlin and two flexible Lewis machine-guns.

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Описание:

  • P.Bowers Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947 (Putnam)
  • G.Swanborough, P.Bowers United States Military Aircraft Since 1909 (Putnam)
  • G.Swanborough, P.Bowers United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911 (Putnam)
  • Jane's All The World Aircraft 1919
  • W.Green, G.Swanborough The Complete Book of Fighters
  • Журнал Flight