| Curtiss 18-T Wasp | |
|---|---|
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| Role | twoseat fighter triplane |
| Manufacturer | Curtiss Engineering Corporation |
| Designed by | Charles B Kirkham |
| First flight | 7 May 1918 |
| Introduction | February 1919 |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Unit cost | $55,400[1] |
The Curtiss 18 T Wasp, also known as the Kirkham,[2] was an early American triplane fighter aircraft built by Curtiss Engineering for the United States Navy. It was designed to protect bombing squads along the French coast, and a primary requisite for this job was speed.[3] 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 1,076 lb (488 kg).[4] After World War I, it was employed as a racing plane: a Model 18T-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.[5]
Speed wasn't the Curtiss' only strength: the Wasp set a new altitude record in 1919 at 30,400 ft (9,300 m), and unofficially it reached even greater altitudes. It is said to be the top-performing triplane of the war.[6]
The Curtiss 18 T-2 was an improved version of its predecessor, boosting 50 additional horsepower. The wings of the new model were swept back. It was also 5 ft (150 cm) longer with a 9 ft (270 cm) greater wingspan, though its flight ceiling was 2,000 ft (610 m) lower. Curtiss Engineering followed the success of the Model 18T with the launch of the Model 18B "Hornet", built to similar specifications.[7]
Contents |
Variants
- Model 18T
- Two-seat fighter triplane, powered by a 400-hp (298-kW) K-12 piston engine.
- Model 18T-1 Wasp
- First prototype, fitted with short-span wings.
- Model 18T-2
- Second prototype, equipped with longer-span wings, it could be fitted with floatplane or landplane landing gear.
- Model 18B Hornet
- Biplane fighter version.
Operators
Specifications (T-1)
Data from Virtual Aircraft Museum[8] and Aerofiles[7]
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 vee engine, 350 hp (261 kW)
- 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 in (7.62 mm) Marlin guns
- Secondary: 2 × rear-cockpit .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns on a Scarff ring
See also
References
- ^ Angelucci, 1987. pp. 114-115.
- ^ PART 2 Test of Strength 19171919
- ^ 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
- ^ Aviation History Facts: August 1
- ^ Concise History
- ^ Mystery Plane
- ^ a b Curtiss # to J
- ^ Curtiss 18-T - fighter
Bibliography
- Angelucci, Enzo (1987). The American Fighter from 1917 to the present. New York: Orion Books.
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