Curtiss Robin

The Curtiss Robin, introduced in 1928, was a high-wing monoplane built by the Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company. The J-1 version was flown by Wrongway Corrigan who crossed the Atlantic after being refused permission.

Curtiss Robin
A Curtiss Robin in the Seattle museum of flight, 2011
Role Touring
Manufacturer Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company
First flight 7 August 1928[1]
Introduction 1928
Status A number still flying[1]
Primary user U. S. Private Owner Market[1]
Number built 769[1]

Design

The Robin, a workmanlike cabin monoplane, had a wooden wing and steel tubing fuselage. The cabin accommodated three persons; two passengers were seated side-by-side behind the pilot. Early Robins were distinguished by large flat fairings over the parallel diagonal wing bracing struts; the fairings were abandoned on later versions, having been found to be ineffective in creating lift.[1] The original landing gear had bungee rubber cord shock absorbers, later replaced by an oleo-pneumatic system; a number of Robins had twin floats added.[2] Variants of the Robin were fitted with engines which developed 90–185 hp (67–138 kW).[2]

Operational history
The aircraft Curtiss Robin "St. Louis" (right) during a record endurance flight 13-30 July 1929, at St. Louis, Missouri, flown by Dale Jackson and Forest O'Brine for 17 days, 12 hours, 17 minutes

A single modified Robin (with a 110 hp (82 kW) Warner R-420-1) was used by the United States Army Air Corps, and designated the XC-10. This aircraft was used in a test program for radio-controlled (and unmanned) flight.[2]

Cuba's national airline, Compañía Nacional Cubana de Aviación Curtiss, was founded in 1929 with the Curtiss-Wright company serving as its co-founder and major investor. The airline's first aircraft was a Curtiss Robin and it was flown on domestic routes as a mail and passenger transport.

From September 1929 to May 1930 a Robin C-1 was used to deliver the McCook, Nebraska Daily Gazette to communities in rural Nebraska and Kansas. The airplane flew a nonstop route of 380 miles (610 km) daily, dropping bundles of newspapers from a height of 500 feet (150 m) to local carriers.[3]

A Curtiss Robin C was purchased by the Paraguayan government in 1932 for the transport squadron of its air arm. It was intensively used as a VIP transport plane and air ambulance during the Chaco War (1932–1935).

Variants (Model 50)

Data from:Curtiss aircraft : 1907-1947[2]

Challenger Robin
(Model 50A) An early version of the Robin, powered by a 165 hp (123 kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine.
Comet Robin
One Robin was converted by its owner in 1937, fitted with a 150 hp (110 kW) Comet 7-D radial piston engine.
Robin
(Model 50A) Prototypes and initial production aircraft powered by 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5 engines.
Robin B
A three-seat cabin monoplane, fitted with wheel brakes and a steerable tailwheel, powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5 V-8 engine; about 325 were built.
Robin B-2
A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 150–180 hp (110–130 kW) Wright-Hisso "A","E" and "I" V-8 water-cooled piston engine.
Robin C
A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 170 hp (130 kW) or 185 hp (138 kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; about 50 built.
1929 Curtis Robin C-1 used for the movie Pearl (modified with an R-680)
Robin C-1
(Model 50C) An improved version of the Robin C, powered by a 185 hp (138 kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; over 200 built.
Robin C-2
(Model 50D) A long-range version fitted with an extra fuel tank, powered by a 170 hp (130 kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; six built.
Robin 4C
(Model 50E) A four-seat version, powered by a Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; one built.
Robin 4C-1
A three-seat version with an enlarged forward fuselage section; three built.
Robin 4C-1A
(Model 50G) Another four-seat version with an enlarged forward fuselage section; 11 built.
Robin 4C-2
A single un-certified version powered by a 225 hp (168 kW) Wright J-6-7 Whirlwind engine.
Robin CR
A one-off experimental version, fitted with a 120 hp (89 kW) Curtiss Crusader engine.
Robin J-1
(Model 50H) Powered by a 165 hp (123 kW) Wright J-6-5 Whirlwind radial piston engine; about 40 built.
Robin J-2
(Model 50I) A long-range version, with 80 US gal (67 imp gal; 300 L) fuel. Two were built
Robin J-3
A J-1 temporarily designated J-3, which reverted to the J-1 designation after being de-modified.
Robin M
A Robin B aircraft, fitted with the 115 hp (86 kW) Milwaukee Tank V-502 V-8 engine (air-cooled OX-5 conversions).
Robin W
(Model 50J) Powered by a 110 hp (82 kW) Warner Scarab radial piston engine. Only a small number were built in 1930.
The XC-10 in 1930
XC-10
One Robin W was sold to the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) and converted into an unmanned pilot-less radio-controlled test aircraft, powered by a 110 hp (82 kW) Warner R-420-1.

Operators

Military operators
 Paraguay
 United States

Surviving aircraft
Curtis Robin B-2 display

Australia

Brazil

Canada

Costa Rica

Germany

United States
Curtiss Robin at the Air Zoo

Specifications (Robin OX-5)
Curtiss Robin 3-view drawing from Aero Digest October 1928

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947,[2] Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928[39]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1
  • Capacity: 2 pax / 425 lb (193 kg) payload
  • Length: 25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
  • Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in (12.5 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 10 in (2.4 m)
  • Wing area: 262.5 sq ft (24.39 m2)
  • Airfoil: Curtiss C-72[40]
  • Empty weight: 1,475 lb (669 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 2,175 lb (987 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 50 US gal (42 imp gal; 190 L) fuel; 5 US gal (4.2 imp gal; 19 L) oil
  • Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss OX-5 V-8 water-cooled piston engine, 90 hp (67 kW)
  • Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propeller

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 99.7 mph (160.5 km/h, 86.6 kn)
  • Cruise speed: 85 mph (137 km/h, 74 kn)
  • Landing speed: 45 mph (39 kn; 72 km/h)
  • Range: 785 mi (1,263 km, 682 nmi) cruising; 580 mi (500 nmi; 930 km) at full throttle
  • Service ceiling: 12,500 ft (3,800 m)
  • Rate of climb: 450 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
  • Time to altitude: 3,800 ft (1,200 m) in 10 minutes
  • Wing loading: 8.2 lb/sq ft (40 kg/m2)
  • Power/mass: 0.0465 hp/lb (0.0764 kW/kg)

See also

Related development

Related lists

References
  1. Eden, Paul; Moeng, Soph (2002). The complete encyclopedia of world aircraft. New York, NY: Barnes & Noble Books. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.
  2. Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss aircraft : 1907-1947. London: Putnam. pp. 172, 377–86. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
  3. "Curtiss-Robertson Robin C-1". www.museumofflight.org. Museum of flight. Retrieved 16 February 2018.
  4. "Aircraft Register Search [VH-JUV]". Australian Government Civil Aviation Safety Authority. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
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  6. "Aviation". Reynolds Museum. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
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  11. "FAA REGISTRY [N8313]". Federal Aviation Administration. U.S. Department of Transportation. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
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  33. Zerilli, Ursula (4 October 2012). "Air Zoo acquires 1928 Curtiss Robin high-wing monoplane". MLive. Advance Local Media LLC. Retrieved 30 July 2018.
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  35. "Aircraft". Glenn H. Curtiss Museum. Glenn H. Curtiss Museum. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
  36. "Museum Hangar 2". Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum. Historic Aircraft Restoration Museum. Retrieved 31 July 2018.
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Bibliography
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