The Curtiss Model 55 Kingbird was an airliner built in small numbers in the United States in the early 1930s. It was a twin-engine aircraft with a fuselage derived from the single-engine Curtiss Thrush. The Kingbird had two engine nacelles mounted on the struts on either side of the fuselage that braced the wing and the outrigger undercarriage. A distinctive design feature was the aircraft's blunt nose, located behind the propeller arcs. This allowed the engines to be mounted closer to each other and to the aircraft's centerline, therefore minimising asymmetrical thrust in case of an engine failure. For the same reason, the Thrush's single tailfin was replaced by twin tails on the Kingbird, and the main production model, the D-2 fitted a second horizontal stabilizer and elevator between these fins.
Eastern Air Transport was to be the Kingbird's main operator, flying 14 of them for a few years. The United States Marine Corps also purchased an example, first designating it JC-1, then RC-1 and using it as an air ambulance.
Variantsedit
Kingbird C
Prototype powered by 185 hp (138 kW) six-cylinder Curtiss R-600 Challenger engines. One built, but found to be underpowered. Later converted to Kingbird J-1.[1]
Kingbird D-1
Second and third prototypes (previously Kingbird J-3 and J-2) powered by 225 hp nine-cylinder Wright Whirlwind J-6-7 radial engines. Later converted to D-2 standard.[2]
Kingbird D-2
Production aircraft with two 300 hp (224 kW) Whirlwind J-6-9 engines. 14 built plus two converted from D-1s.[1]
Kingbird D-3
One-off Curtiss executive transport. Two 330 hp (246 kW) Whirlwind J-6-9 engines. Seats for five passengers.[3]
Kingbird J-1
First prototype after re-engining with Whirlwind engines.[3]
Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 288.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss Kingbird.
"The Curtiss "Kingbird": An American Twin-Engined Cabin Transport". Flight. XXIII (2): 29–30. January 9, 1931. Retrieved October 13, 2012. A contemporary technical article on the Kingbird, with details of the version with 225 hp Whirlwind J-6-7 engines.
aerofiles.com
generalaviationnews.com
January 01, 1970
curtiss, kingbird, curtiss, model, kingbird, airliner, built, small, numbers, united, states, early, 1930s, twin, engine, aircraft, with, fuselage, derived, from, single, engine, curtiss, thrush, kingbird, engine, nacelles, mounted, struts, either, side, fusel. The Curtiss Model 55 Kingbird was an airliner built in small numbers in the United States in the early 1930s It was a twin engine aircraft with a fuselage derived from the single engine Curtiss Thrush The Kingbird had two engine nacelles mounted on the struts on either side of the fuselage that braced the wing and the outrigger undercarriage A distinctive design feature was the aircraft s blunt nose located behind the propeller arcs This allowed the engines to be mounted closer to each other and to the aircraft s centerline therefore minimising asymmetrical thrust in case of an engine failure For the same reason the Thrush s single tailfin was replaced by twin tails on the Kingbird and the main production model the D 2 fitted a second horizontal stabilizer and elevator between these fins Model 55 Kingbird The Curtiss RC 1 Role Airliner Manufacturer Curtiss Wright Designer Theodore Paul Wright Al Wedburg First flight 1929 Primary users Eastern Air TransportUnited States Marine Corps Number built 19 Developed from Curtiss Thrush Eastern Air Transport was to be the Kingbird s main operator flying 14 of them for a few years The United States Marine Corps also purchased an example first designating it JC 1 then RC 1 and using it as an air ambulance Variants editKingbird C Prototype powered by 185 hp 138 kW six cylinder Curtiss R 600 Challenger engines One built but found to be underpowered Later converted to Kingbird J 1 1 Kingbird D 1 Second and third prototypes previously Kingbird J 3 and J 2 powered by 225 hp nine cylinder Wright Whirlwind J 6 7 radial engines Later converted to D 2 standard 2 Kingbird D 2 Production aircraft with two 300 hp 224 kW Whirlwind J 6 9 engines 14 built plus two converted from D 1s 1 Kingbird D 3 One off Curtiss executive transport Two 330 hp 246 kW Whirlwind J 6 9 engines Seats for five passengers 3 Kingbird J 1 First prototype after re engining with Whirlwind engines 3 Kingbird J 2 Third prototype J 6 7 engines 3 Kingbird J 3 Second prototype J 6 9 engines 3 RC 1 Single Kingbird D 2 for US Navy originally ordered as JC 1 J for utility but delivered as RC 1 R for transport 4 Operators edit nbsp United States Eastern Air Transport United States Marine Corps nbsp Turkey Turkish Airlines under former official name State Airlines Administration Specifications D 2 editData from Curtiss Aircraft 1907 1947 4 General characteristicsCrew 1 Capacity 7 pax Length 34 ft 5 125 in 10 49338 m Wingspan 54 ft 6 in 16 61 m Height 10 ft 0 in 3 05 m Wing area 405 sq ft 37 6 m2 Airfoil Curtiss C 72 5 Empty weight 3 877 lb 1 759 kg Gross weight 6 115 lb 2 774 kg Powerplant 2 Wright J 6 9 Whirlwind 9 cylinder air cooled radial piston engine 300 hp 220 kW each Performance Maximum speed 142 mph 229 km h 123 kn Cruise speed 112 mph 180 km h 97 kn Range 415 mi 668 km 361 nmi Service ceiling 16 000 ft 4 900 m Rate of climb 1 000 ft min 5 1 m s See also editRelated lists List of United States Navy aircraft designations pre 1962 References editNotes edit a b Bowers 1979 p 387 Bowers 1979 pp 387 388 a b c d Bowers 1979 p 388 a b Bowers 1979 p 389 Lednicer David The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage m selig ae illinois edu Retrieved 16 April 2019 Bibliography edit Bowers Peter M 1979 Curtiss Aircraft 1907 1947 London Putnam amp Company Ltd ISBN 0 370 10029 8 Taylor Michael J H 1989 Jane s Encyclopedia of Aviation London Studio Editions p 288 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss Kingbird The Curtiss Kingbird An American Twin Engined Cabin Transport Flight XXIII 2 29 30 January 9 1931 Retrieved October 13 2012 A contemporary technical article on the Kingbird with details of the version with 225 hp Whirlwind J 6 7 engines aerofiles com generalaviationnews com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Curtiss Kingbird amp oldid 1115106413, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
