Curtiss XF13C
1934 fighter aircraft in United States
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Curtiss XF13C (Model 70) was a carrier-based fighter aircraft built by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company.
| XF13C | |
|---|---|
| Curtiss XF13C in 1937 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company |
| Number built | 3 |
| History | |
| First flight | 7 January 1934[1] |
Development and design
The XF13C was a naval fighter featuring an all-metal construction, with a semi-monocoque fuselage, manually retractable landing gear and an enclosed cockpit. The aircraft was designed to facilitate conversions from biplane to monoplane and vice versa. The United States Navy bought a prototype, designated XF13C-1 when in monoplane configuration, and XF13C-2 when a biplane.[1]
The XF13C first flew in 1934 with good results realized in tests. In 1935, the aircraft received a more powerful engine and modifications to the overly tall tailplanes. The designation was changed to XF13C-3 for more flight testing.
Operational history
Specifications (XF13C-3)
Data from [1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 25 ft 0 in (7.62 m)
- Wingspan: 35 ft 0 in (10.66 m)
- Height: 8 ft 9.5 in (2.66 m)
- Wing area: 205 sq ft (19.04 m2)
- Empty weight: 3,412 lb (1,548 kg)
- Gross weight: 4,634 lb (2,102 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Wright SGR-1510-12 , 700 hp (520 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 246 mph (396 km/h, 214 kn)
- Range: 726 mi (1,168 km, 631 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 25,250 ft (7,696 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,000 ft/min (10.16 m/s)
Armament
- 1 × .50 in (12.7 mm) machine gun
- 1 × .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun
