"CW-25" redirects here. For the CW affiliate in South Bend, Indiana, see WCWW-LD.
The Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Jeep was an American twin-engined advanced trainer aircraft used by the United States during World War II to bridge the gap between single-engined trainers and twin-engined combat aircraft. The AT-9 had a low-wing cantilever monoplane configuration, retractable landing gear and was powered by two Lycoming R-680-9 radial engines.
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]
Operational historyedit
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.
Variantsedit
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.
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.[citation needed]
^Shanaberger, Kenneth W. "Curtiss-Wright AT-9 Fledgling/Jeep." 2008-12-01 at the Wayback Machine KensAviation.com, 2008.
^"Curtiss AT-9 Jeep/Fledgling". National Museum of the US Air Force. 20 April 2015. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
^. Pima Air & Space Museum. Pimaair.org. Archived from the original on 2 September 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
^Robinson, Nancy (3 October 1992). "Larry Tagg Taking Part in Air Show that Won't Draw a Crowd". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 2A. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
^"Pima Air Museum is Beneficiary of Trainer Retrieved from '42 Crash Site". Arizona Daily Star. AP. 9 May 1993. p. B-11. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
^Robinson, Nancy (10 July 1993). "Rare Plane's Recovery Leaves One Less Ghost in the Gila". Abilene Reporter-News. p. 4A. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
^Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Bibliographyedit
Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft, 1907–1947. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN0-370-10029-8.
Lawrence, Joseph (1945). The Observer's Book Of Airplanes. London and New York: Frederick Warne & Co.
Mondey, David. American Aircraft of World War II (Hamlyn Concise Guide). London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN978-0-7537-1461-4.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss AT-9 Jeep.
National Museum of the United States Air Force Fact Sheet
April 18, 2024
curtiss, wright, jeep, redirects, here, affiliate, south, bend, indiana, wcww, american, twin, engined, advanced, trainer, aircraft, used, united, states, during, world, bridge, between, single, engined, trainers, twin, engined, combat, aircraft, wing, cantile. CW 25 redirects here For the CW affiliate in South Bend Indiana see WCWW LD The Curtiss Wright AT 9 Jeep was an American twin engined advanced trainer aircraft used by the United States during World War II to bridge the gap between single engined trainers and twin engined combat aircraft The AT 9 had a low wing cantilever monoplane configuration retractable landing gear and was powered by two Lycoming R 680 9 radial engines AT 9 JeepAT 9ARole Advanced twin engined trainerManufacturer Curtiss WrightFirst flight 1941Primary users United States Army Air ForcesUnited States Air ForceProduced 1941 1943Number built 792 including prototype and AT 9A variant Contents 1 Development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Surviving aircraft 6 Specifications AT 9 7 See also 8 References 8 1 Notes 8 2 Bibliography 9 External linksDevelopment editCurtiss 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 Operational history edit nbsp 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 Variants editCW 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 Operators edit nbsp United StatesUnited States Army Air Forces United States Air ForceSurviving aircraft edit nbsp 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 amp 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 citation needed Specifications AT 9 edit nbsp 3 view line drawing of the Curtiss Wright AT 9AData from Curtiss Aircraft 1907 1947 8 General characteristicsCrew 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 propellersPerformance 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 secondsSee also edit nbsp Aviation portalAircraft of comparable role configuration and era Beechcraft AT 10 Wichita Beech C 45 Expeditor Cessna AT 17 BobcatRelated lists List of aircraft of World War IIReferences editNotes edit a b c d Mondey 2006 p 70 Shanaberger Kenneth W Curtiss Wright AT 9 Fledgling Jeep Archived 2008 12 01 at the Wayback Machine KensAviation com 2008 Curtiss AT 9 Jeep Fledgling National Museum of the US Air Force 20 April 2015 Retrieved 28 May 2017 JEEP Pima Air amp Space Museum Pimaair org Archived from the original on 2 September 2017 Retrieved 28 May 2017 Robinson Nancy 3 October 1992 Larry Tagg Taking Part in Air Show that Won t Draw a Crowd Abilene Reporter News p 2A Retrieved 30 January 2023 Pima Air Museum is Beneficiary of Trainer Retrieved from 42 Crash Site Arizona Daily Star AP 9 May 1993 p B 11 Retrieved 30 January 2023 Robinson Nancy 10 July 1993 Rare Plane s Recovery Leaves One Less Ghost in the Gila Abilene Reporter News p 4A Retrieved 30 January 2023 Bowers 1979 p 471 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Bibliography edit Bowers Peter M Curtiss Aircraft 1907 1947 London Putnam amp Company Ltd 1979 ISBN 0 370 10029 8 Lawrence Joseph 1945 The Observer s Book Of Airplanes London and New York Frederick Warne amp Co Mondey David American Aircraft of World War II Hamlyn Concise Guide London Bounty Books 2006 ISBN 978 0 7537 1461 4 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss AT 9 Jeep National Museum of the United States Air Force Fact Sheet Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Curtiss Wright AT 9 Jeep amp oldid 1209656298, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
