Curtiss B-2
| Curtiss B-2 Condor | |
|---|---|
 Formation of four Curtiss B-2 |
|
| Type: | bomber |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| Production time: |
1929 to 1930 |
| Number of pieces: |
13 |
The Curtiss B-2 Condor was developed in 1927, American biplane - bomber . It was very similar to the Martin NBS-1 that Curtiss built for the Glenn L. Martin Company . There were few differences, like using steel for the hull fairing and installing a different type of engine.
development
The B-2 emerged from the prototype XB-2 , which had been ordered by the US Army in 1926. The first flight of the XB-2 took place in September 1927. The XB-2 received a steel casing instead of the wooden fuselage of the NBS-1. The outdated Liberty L-12 engines were replaced with more modern Curtiss V-1570 engines.
The XB-2 was in competition with the Keystone XB-1 , Sikorsky S-37 and Fokker XLB-2 . The three other competitors were quickly removed from the comparison. It was now compared to the smaller Keystone XLB-6 , which was only a third of the B-2. The B-2 was so big that it was difficult to fit into the hangars that existed at the time . However, the excellent performance of the B-2 was ultimately decisive and twelve machines were ordered in 1928.
The B-2 was a massive biplane. The engines sat next to the fuselage in engine pods between the wings. In the stern there was a double vertical tail, which was already considered obsolete back then. A gunner sat in the rear of each motor nacelle, which was new compared to the old bomber designs. The Keystone XB-1 also used this firing arrangement.
The B-2 were delivered in 1929 and 1930. This was followed by a B-2A , which received a double version of the control instruments for the master and copilot. The B-2A was used as a transport aircraft and was given the registration number C-30 Condor.
The B-2 was retired relatively quickly, it no longer corresponded to the technical standard of its time. In 1934 her service with the Army Air Corps ended . Curtiss now focused more on fighter aircraft construction and developed the Hawk series .
States of operations
- Argentina , Republic of China , Colombia , Peru , USA (Army Air Corps, Navy)
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| crew | 5 |
| length | 14.5 m |
| span | 27.4 m |
| height | 4.9 m |
| Wing area | 140 m² |
| Empty mass | 4100 kg |
| Takeoff mass | 7480 kg |
| drive | two V12 Curtiss V-1570 -7 with 600 HP each (approx. 440 kW) |
| Top speed | 212 km / h |
| Range | 1300 km |
| Service ceiling | 4030 m |
| Armament | six 7.7 mm MG , max. 1800 kg bombs |
Web links
- US Air Force Museum Curtiss B-2
- Photo of a B-2 on theaircache.com
- Encyclopedia of American Aircraft Curtiss B-2 Condor