| Curtiss 18-T Wasp | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Type | twoseat fighter triplane |
| Manufacturer | Curtiss Engineering Corporation |
| Designed by | Charles B Kirkham |
| Maiden flight | May 7, 1918 |
| Introduction | February 1919 |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
The Curtiss 18 T Wasp, also known as the Kirkham,[1] was built by Curtiss Engineering for the U.S. Navy. It was designed to protect bombing squads along the French coast, and a primary requisite for this job was speed.[2] Flown by Roland Rholfs, the Wasp achieved a world speed record of 163 mph (262 km/h) in August 1918 carrying a full military load of 1076 pounds.[3] After World War I, it was employed as a racing plane: a T-2 model nearly won the Curtiss Marine Trophy Race in 1922 (limited to U.S. Navy pilots), but pilot Sandy Sanderson ran out of fuel just before the finish line.[4] Speed wasn't the Curtiss' only strength: the Wasp set a new altitude record in 1919 at 30,400 feet, and unofficially it reached even greater altitudes. It is said to be the top-performing triplane of the war.[5] The Curtiss 18 T-2 was an improved version of its predecessor, boosting 50 additional horsepower. The T-1 had proved too heavy for its straight wings to lift efficiently, so the wings of the new model were swept back five degrees. It was also five feet longer with a nine-foot greater wingspan, though its flight ceiling was 2,000 feet lower. Curtiss Engineering followed the success of the 18 T with the launch of the 18 B "Hornet", build to similar specifications.[6]
Specifications (T-1)
Data from Virtual Aircraft Museum[7] and Aerofiles[6]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m)
- Wingspan: 31 ft 10 in (9.70 m)
- Height: 9 ft 11 in (3.02 m)
- Wing area: 288.04 sq ft (26.76 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,069 lb (485 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 3,049 lb (1,383 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× water-cooled 12-cylinder engine, 350 hp (--)
- Propellers: four-blade prop, 1 per engine
Performance
- Maximum speed: 163 mph (262 km/h)
- Service ceiling aprox. 34,908 ft (10,640 m)
Armament
- Guns:
- Primary: 2× forward-firing synchronized .30 Marlin guns
- Secondary: 2× rear-cockpit .303 Lewis guns on a Scarff ring
References
- ^ http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART02.PDF
- ^ http://books.google.com/books?id=kG3Ub6cgalMC&pg=PA2508&lpg=PA2508&dq=%22curtiss+18+t%22&source=web&ots=-ucmK0P817&sig=4SxsCYKHwhs4N-6Uphu_vpuT_yc
- ^ http://www.centennialofflight.gov/user/fact_aug.htm
- ^ http://www.airrace.com/ConciseHist.htm
- ^ http://www.bsc.net/JFA3088/mysteryplane.htm
- ^ a b http://www.aerofiles.com/_curt.html
- ^ http://avia.russian.ee/air/usa/curtiss_18t.php
Related content
Designation sequence
17 - 18 - 19 - 23 - 26 →
|
|
|
|---|---|
| General | Timeline of aviation · Aircraft · Aircraft manufacturers · Aircraft engines · Aircraft engine manufacturers · Airports · Airlines |
| Military | Air forces · Aircraft weapons · Missiles · Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) · Experimental aircraft |
| Notable incidents and accidents | Military aviation · Airliners · General aviation · Famous aviation-related deaths |
| Records | Flight airspeed record · Flight distance record · Flight altitude record · Flight endurance record · Most produced aircraft |
