Curtiss XBT2C

XBT2C
The XBT2C-1
Role	Attack aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
First flight	March 1945
Number built	9
Developed from	Curtiss XBTC

The Curtiss XBT2C was an experimental single-engined dive/torpedo bomber developed during World War II. It was based on the Curtiss XBTC single seat dive/torpedo bomber, but used a less powerful engine Wright R-3350 radial engine and could carry a second crew member in the rear fuselage. It was fitted with radar, which was carried in a pod under the starboard wing. Nine of ten projected aircraft were built. They were Curtiss' last type for the U.S. Navy. All were scrapped in the late 1940s.^[1]

Operators

 United States

• United States Navy

Specifications (XBT2C-1)

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1 or 2
• Length: 39 ft 2 in (11.93 m)
• Wingspan: 47 ft 7⅛ in (14.5 m)
• Height: 12 ft 1 in (3.68 m)
• Wing area: 416 ft² (38.64 m²)
• Empty weight: 12,268 lb (5,565 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 19,022 lb (8,628 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-3350-24 Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder, two-row, air-cooled radial engine, 2,500 hp (1,865 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 330 mph (287 knots, 531 km/h) at 17,000 ft (5,200 m)
• Range: 1,310 mi (1,139 nmi, 2,108 km)
• Service ceiling: 26,300 ft (8,016 m)
• Rate of climb: 1,890 ft/min (9.6 m/s)

Armament

• Guns: 2 × 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon (wing)
• Bombs: 2,000 lb (907 kg)

See also

Related development

• SB2C Helldiver
• Curtiss XBTC
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• AD Skyraider
• AM Mauler
• Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK
  

Related lists

• List of attack aircraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)
  

References

1. ^ U.S. Naval Aviation News September 1979, pp.20-21
2. ^ Bowers 1979, p. 450.

• Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947. London: Putnam. ISBN 0 370 10029 8. 
• Donald, David (1997). The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. NY, NY: Barnes & Noble. ISBN 0-7607-0592-5. 
• Thomason, Tommy H. (2009). Strike from the Sea: U.S. Navy Attack Aircraft From Skyraider to Super Hornet 1948-Present. North Branch, MN: Specialty Press. ISBN 978-1-58007-132-1. 

External links