P.Bowers Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947 (Putnam)

Model MF (Model 18)

   The MF was a greatly improved two-seat training flying-boat that was evolved from the Model F through the experimental BAT and BAP models. The designation stood for Modernized F. Structurally, the MF was more like the HS design than the F, but it was in the weight-power-size class of the F and was intended as a replacement for it.
   A very prominent feature of the MF was the use of sponsons on each side of the forward hull as introduced on the America and used on many subsequent flying-boats. Initial powerplant was the 100 hp Curtiss OXX-3 but experimental installations were made with the 150 hp Wright-Hispano and the 150 hp Curtiss K-6, a new six-cylinder inline engine that was essentially half of the 400 hp K-12 developed for Curtiss by Charles Kirkham.
   Curtiss built six MFs at Garden City on one Navy order and sixteen of 47 on a second order that was cancelled by the Armistice. The Navy built 80 more in the Naval Aircraft Factory at a cost of $5,821 each less engine for the first 20 and $3,771 each for the last 20. After the war, Curtiss continued limited production of the MF for the civil market under the name of Seagull and also converted former Naval MFs to Seagulls for civil use. Other Curtiss and Navy-built MFs that became surplus were acquired by the Cox-Klemin Aircraft Co of College Point, Long Island, which rebuilt them for the civil market in the early 1920s.

MF
   Trainer flying-boat. Two pilots. 100 hp Curtiss OXX-3.
   Span 49 ft 9 in (15,16 m); length 28 ft 10 in (8,78 m); height 11 ft 7 in (3,53 m): wing area 402 sq ft (37,34 sq m).
   Empty weight 1,850 lb (839 kg); gross weight 2,488 lb (1,128 kg).
   Maximum speed 72 mph (115,87 km/h); climb 2.400 ft (731 m) in 10 min: service ceiling 4,100 ft (1,250 m); range 345 miles (555 km).


Model 18 - Seagull

   This was a refurbished wartime MF Navy flying-boat sold commercially in 1920. In spite of such improvements as the 160 hp Curtiss C-6 engine, sales were poor, approximately 16, because of direct competition from surplus Navy models and from other firms that offered their own rebuilt versions of the MF. Technical data as for MF except:

   Empty weight 1,191 lb (540 kg); gross weight 2,726 lb (1,236 kg). Maximum speed 76.5 mph (123.11 km/h); cruising speed 60 mph (96.55 km/h); climb 260 ft/min (1.32 m/sec); service ceiling 5,900 ft (1,798 m); range 288 miles (463 km).