Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeep

Curtiss-Wright anticipated the requirement for this type of "high-performance" aircraft and designed the Curtiss-Wright CW-25, a twin-engined trainer, which possessed the takeoff and landing characteristics of a light bomber. Using the same basic design as the larger Cessna AT-17 Bobcat, the new CW-25 was designed to simulate the demands of multi-engined operations. The design featured a small layout, grouping two Lycoming R-680-9 radial engines forward and using a retractable tailwheel landing gear to achieve the performance necessary to meet the requirements of an advanced trainer. The single CW-25 prototype acquired for evaluation had a welded steel-tube fuselage structure with the wings, fuselage and tail unit fabric-covered.[1]

Curtiss AT-9A under C-76 Caravan's wing at Curtiss-Wright in 1943.

The first prototype Model 25 flew in 1941 and the production version entered service as the AT-9 in 1942. Named the "Fledgling" by Curtiss-Wright, it commonly became known as the "Jeep" in the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).[2] The prototype CW-25 had a fabric-covered steel tube fuselage and fabric-covered wings and tail units, but production AT-9s were of stressed metal skin construction.[1]

The AT-9 was purposely designed to be less stable and proved to be difficult to fly or land, which made it particularly suitable for teaching new pilots to cope with the demanding flight characteristics of a new generation of high-performance, multi-engined aircraft such as the Martin B-26 Marauder and Lockheed P-38 Lightning.[1]

A total of 491 AT-9s were built before production ended and a new production run of 300 of the generally similar AT-9A commenced.[1]

Because of its difficult flying characteristics the AT-9 was not offered for sale to civilians after the war, although many non-flying examples were given to ground schools for training purposes.

CW-25

Prototype with fabric covered fuselage and tail surfaces

AT-9

Production aircraft with stressed-skin covering and two Lycoming R-680-9 radial engines, 491 built.

AT-9A

AT-9 with Lycoming R-680-11 radial engines and revised hydraulic system, 300 built before production ended in February 1943.

 United States

• United States Army Air Forces
• United States Air Force

The Curtiss-Wright AT-9 "Jeep" bomber-pilot trainer at the National Museum of the USAF.

• 41-12150 – AT-9 on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio. It required extensive restoration, and was the product of the museum staff incorporating two incomplete airframes together, along with parts fabricated on site.[3]
• 42-56882 – AT-9 in storage at the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.[4] It was recovered from a crash site in 1993 and turned over to the museum for restoration.[5][6][7] However, the aircraft is incomplete and will require a long and extensive restoration for display.

3-view line drawing of the Curtiss-Wright AT-9A

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947[8]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 31 ft 8 in (9.65 m)
• Wingspan: 40 ft 4 in (12.29 m)
• Height: 9 ft 10 in (3.00 m)
• Wing area: 233 sq ft (21.6 m²)
• Airfoil: root: NACA 23015.9 ; tip: NACA 4410[9]
• Empty weight: 4,494 lb (2,038 kg)
• Gross weight: 6,060 lb (2,749 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Lycoming R-680-9 , 295 hp (220 kW) each
• Propellers: 2-bladed propellers

Performance

• Maximum speed: 197 mph (317 km/h, 171 kn)
• Cruise speed: 175 mph (282 km/h, 152 kn)
• Range: 750 mi (1,210 km, 650 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 19,000 ft (5,800 m)
• Time to altitude: 10,000 ft (3,000 m) in 8 minutes 36 seconds

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Beechcraft AT-10 Wichita
• Beech C-45 Expeditor
• Cessna AT-17 Bobcat

Related lists

• List of aircraft of World War II

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss AT-9 Jeep.

• National Museum of the United States Air Force Fact Sheet