Curtiss T-32 Condor II

The Condor II was a 1933 two-bay biplane of mixed construction with a single vertical stabilizer and rudder, and retractable landing gear. It was powered by two Wright Cyclone radial engines. The first aircraft was flown on 30 January 1933 and a production batch of 21 aircraft was then built. The production aircraft were fitted out as 12-passenger luxury night sleeper transports. They entered service with Eastern Air Transport and American Airways, forerunners of Eastern Air Lines and American Airlines, respectively, on regular night services for the next three years. The June 15, 1934, American Airlines system timetable marketed its Condors as being "The World's First Complete Sleeper-Planes" with these 12-passenger aircraft being equipped with sleeper berths and also being capable of cruising at 190 miles per hour.[1] An example of the Condor services operated by American were daily overnight flights between Dallas and Los Angeles during the mid-1930s with a routing of Dallas–Ft. Worth–Abilene–Big Spring, TX–El Paso–Douglas, AZ–Tucson–Phoenix–Los Angeles.[2]

The Colombian Air Force operated three BT-32s equipped with floats in the Colombia-Peru War in 1933.

Two modified T-32s were bought by the United States Army Air Corps (designated YC-30) for use as executive transports. One Condor was converted with extra fuel tanks and used by the 1939–1941 United States Antarctic Service Expedition, and unique for a Condor, had a fixed undercarriage to allow use on floats or skis. Some aircraft were later modified to AT-32 standard with variable-pitch propellers and improved engine nacelles. The AT-32D variant could be converted from sleeper configuration to daytime use with 15 seats. Four T-32s operating in the United Kingdom were pressed into service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of World War II.

Eight bomber variants (BT-32) were built with manually operated machine-gun turrets in the nose and above the rear fuselage. All these aircraft were exported. A military cargo version (CT-32) was also built for Argentina. It had a large loading door on the starboard side of the fuselage.

A USAAC YC-30 in 1933.

T-32

Production luxury night sleeper, 21 built including two as YC-30s

T-32C

Ten T-32s modified to AT-32 standard.

AT-32A

Variant with variable-pitch propellers and 710 hp (529 kW) Wright SGR-1820-F3 Cyclone engines, three built.

AT-32B

An AT-32 variant with 720 hp (537 kW) Wright SGR-1820-F2 Cyclone engines, three built.

AT-32C

An AT-32 variant, one built for Swissair.

AT-32D

An AT-32 variant with 720 hp (537 kW) Wright SGR-1820-F3 Cyclone engines, one built.

AT-32E

AT-32 variant for the United States Navy as the R4C-1, two built.

BT-32

Bomber variant, eight built.

CT-32

Military cargo variant with large cargo door, three built.

YC-30

United States Army Air Corps designation for two T-32s.

Curtiss R4C-1

R4C-1

United States Navy designation for two AT-32Es (one for United States Marine Corps) both later to the United States Antarctic Service.

• On 27 July 1934, Swissair Condor CH-170 broke up in mid-air and crashed at Tuttlingen, Germany killing all 12 passengers and crew.[3]

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947[4]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2 flight crew + 1 cabin attendant
• Capacity: 15 passengers
• Length: 48 ft 7 in (14.81 m)
• Wingspan: 82 ft 0 in (24.99 m)
• Height: 16 ft 4 in (4.98 m)
• Wing area: 1,208 sq ft (112.2 m²)
• Airfoil: NACA 2412[5]
• Empty weight: 12,235 lb (5,550 kg)
• Gross weight: 17,500 lb (7,938 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Wright SGR-1820-F2 Cyclone 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 720 hp (540 kW) each at 4,000 ft (1,200 m)
• Propellers: 3-bladed controllable-pitch propellers

Performance

• Maximum speed: 190 mph (310 km/h, 170 kn)
• Cruise speed: 167 mph (269 km/h, 145 kn)
• Range: 716 mi (1,152 km, 622 nmi)
• Service ceiling: 23,000 ft (7,000 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)

• Andrade, John M. U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9. (Page 63 and 214)
• Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947. London: Putnam & CompanyLtd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
• Hagedorn, Dan (March–May 1992). "Curtiss Types in Latin America". Air Enthusiast. No. 45. pp. 61–77. ISSN 0143-5450.
• Taylor, H.A. (March–June 1978). ""The Uncompetitive Condor"". Air Enthusiast. No. 6. Bromley, Kent, UK: Pilot Press Ltd. pp. 94–110.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982–1985). Orbis Publishing, 1985.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss T-32 Condor II.

• USAF Museum C-30 factsheet
• USAF Museum YC-30 factsheet
• (in Spanish) History of the Argentine Naval Aviation CT-32s