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Страна: США

Год: 1915

Варианты

P.Bowers Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947 (Putnam)

Model R Series (Model 2)

   Following Curtiss's acquisition of designers experienced with tractor-type aeroplanes, the company sought to develop larger and more advanced models than the J and N for military use. The first such effort was the two-seat Model R, a tandem two-seater introduced early in 1915 and powered with the new 160 hp Curtiss V-X engine that was essentially an enlargement of the well established O and OX models. The Model R was not notably successful but, thanks to having no significant competition, enjoyed brisk sales to both the US Army and Navy from 1915 until the end of the war and remained in Navy service into 1926. Early models were also bought by Britain's Royal Flying Corps.

R - The prototype R could be regarded as an enlarged version of the original Model N, with equal-span wings, RAF 6 aerofoil, no dihedral, and shoulder-type aileron control. The most noticeable differences, other than the size, were the extremely heavy stagger of the wings and the use of a single long cockpit for both occupants. Although heavier than the N, the R was still light enough for its balance to be affected by crew location, so the pilot occupied the rear seat. The presence or absence of the observer in the front cockpit, located on the centre of gravity, did not affect the balance of the aeroplane. The single company-owned prototype was soon modified by the addition of dihedral and tested both as a land plane and as a single-float seaplane.

R-2A - The R-2A was a parallel development with the R-2 but was completed first. Again, the crew was in two separate cockpits and the tail and landing gear were redesigned, but the wings were equal-span and retained the interplane ailerons and no-dihedral rigging. In August 1915, Curtiss pilot Raymond V. Morris overloaded the R-2A and set an American altitude record of 8,105 ft (2,470 m) for pilot and three passengers.

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Описание:

  • P.Bowers Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947 (Putnam)
  • Журнал Flight