- Curtiss Tanager
-
Tanager Role Technology desmonstrator Manufacturer Curtiss Designer Robert R. Osborn and Theodore Paul Wright First flight 12 October 1929 Number built 1 The Curtiss Model 54 Tanager was an aircraft constructed in 1929 as Curtiss' entry in the Guggenheim Safe Aircraft Competition. It was a conventional biplane design with a highly streamlined fuselage similar in outline to the Curtiss Eagle, but of considerably smaller proportions. The wings were fitted with a variety of high-lift devices, including automatic leading-edge slots on the upper wing, flaps that extended the entire span of the upper wing, and "floating" ailerons on the lower wing that in the absence of pilot input, automatically adjusted themselves parallel to the airflow over the wing. The combination of these devices gave the Tanager a stall speed of just 31 mph (50 km/h) and allowed it to land in only 90 ft (27 m).[1]
Only the Tanager and the Handley Page Gugnunc passed the qualifying round of the competition, and ultimately, the Tanager was to beat its rival by only one point to claim the $100,000 (£20,000)[2] prize. The Gugnunc failing to get a minimum speed below 38 mph. Even before the competition was decided, however, Handley Page was suing Curtiss for the unlicenced use of the leading-edge slot. Curtiss claimed they were using the slots experimentally and would apply for a licence in any commercial use. Curtiss counter-sued Handley Page for infringements of six of their patents in the Handley Page machine.[3] They also cited a ruling that the British machine was not permitted to be imported into the US.
Following the competition, the Tanager was destroyed in a fire when sparks from its engine set the grass alight.[4]
Contents
Specifications
Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947[5]
General characteristics
- Crew: One pilot
- Capacity: 2 passengers
- Length: 26 ft 8 in (8.12 m)
- Wingspan: 43 ft 10 in (13.35 m)
- Height: 11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
- Wing area: 333 ft2 (30.93 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,958 lb (888 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,841 lb (1,289 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss Challenger, 185 hp (138 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 112 mph (180 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 95 mph (153 km/h)
- Range: 535 miles (861 km)
- Service ceiling: 12,500 ft (8,810 m)
- Rate of climb: 700 ft/min (3.6 m/s)
See also
- Related development
- McDonnell Doodlebug a competitor in the contest
Notes
- ^ "Wings For All Of Us", October 1930, Popular Mechanics
- ^ Flight 1930
- ^ Flight 1929
- ^ Flight 29 August 1930
- ^ Bowers 1979, p.219.
References
- Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10029 8.
- Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. pp. 278.
- Time 6 January 1930
External links
- First announcement of competitors Flight 1927
- Flight 16 June 1927 THE DANIEL GUGGENHEIM SAFE-AIRCRAFT COMPETITION
- "Wings For All Of Us", October 1930, Popular Mechanics detailed illustration Tanager's safety low speed and short take off and landing ability
- "Hundred-Thousand Dollar Plane - Why it Won" Popular Mechanics, March 1930 detailed text article and excellent photo of Tanager
- "AMERICAN PLANE WINS $100,000 SAFETY PRIZE", 1930 News film
Aircraft produced by Curtiss and Curtiss-Wright Manufacturer
designationsModel letters: C • D • E • F • G • GS • H • J • K • L • M • N • PN • JN • R • S
Model numbers: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 23 • 24 • 26 • 28 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59A/59B • 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 • 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 79 • 81 • 82 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 90 • 91 • 94 • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 •
"CW" models: CW-1 • CW-2 • CW-3 • CW-4 • CW-5 • CW-6 • CW-7 • CW-8 • CW-9 • CW-10 • CW-11 • CW-12 • CW-14 • CW-15 • CW-16 • CW-17 • CW-18 • CW-19 • CW-20 • CW-21 • CW-22 • CW-23 • CW-24 • CW-25 • CW-27 • CW-29 • CW-32
By role Experimental: No. 1 • Model C • Tanager
Racing: No. 2 • CR • R2C • R3C
General utility: Model D • Model E • Model F • Robin • Thrush
Maritime patrol: Model H • HS-1L and -2L
Training: Model L • Model JN • Fledgling • AT-4 Hawk • AT-5 Hawk
Fighters: 18 • PW-8 • P-1 • P-2 • P-3 • P-4 • P-5 • P-6 • XP-31 • P-36 • P-40 • XP-46 • XP-53 • YP-60 • XP-62 • XP-71 • XP-87
Naval Fighters: HA • FC • F2C • F3C • F4C • F6C • F7C • F8C • F9C • F10C • F11C • XF12C • F13C • XF14C • XF15C
Airliners: Eagle • Condor II • Kingbird
Naval Scouts/Dive Bombers: CS • GS • S2C • XS3C • S4C • SC • SBC • SB2C • XSB3C • SOC • SO2C • SO3C
Observation: O-1 • O-12 • O-13 • O-16 • O-18 • O-26 • O-39 • O-40 • O-52
Naval Observation: OC • O2C • O3C
Naval Bombers: 24 • BFC • BF2C • XBTC • XBT2C
Ground Attack: A-3 • A-4 • A-5 • A-6 • A-8 • YA-10 • A-12 • YA-14 • A-25 • A-40 • XA-43
Licensed production: NBS-1
Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- United States experimental aircraft 1920–1929
- Curtiss aircraft
- Single-engine aircraft
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