Curtiss Robin

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_Robin

The Curtiss Robin, introduced in 1928, was a high-wing monoplane built by the
Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company. The J-1 version was flown by
Wrongway Corrigan who crossed the Atlantic after being refused permission.

The Robin, a workmanlike cabin monoplane, had a wooden wing and steel tubing
fuselage. The cabin accommodated three persons; two passengers were seated
side-by-side behind the pilot. Early Robins were distinguished by large flat
fairings over the parallel diagonal wing bracing struts; the fairings were
abandoned on later versions, having been found to be ineffective in creating
lift. The original landing gear had bungee rubber cord shock absorbers, later
replaced by an oleo-pneumatic system; a number of Robins had twin floats added.
Variants of the Robin were fitted with engines which developed 90–185 hp (67–138
kW).


Role
Touring

Manufacturer
Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company

First flight
7 August 1928

Introduction
1928

Status
A number still flying

Primary user
U. S. Private Owner Market

Number built
769

Unit cost

$7,500 U.S. Dollars (1938)

A single modified Robin (with a 110 hp (82 kW) Warner R-420-1) was used by the
United States Army Air Corps, and designated the XC-10. This aircraft was used
in a test program for radio-controlled (and unmanned) flight.

Cuba's national airline, Compañía Nacional Cubana de Aviación Curtiss, was
founded in 1929 with the Curtiss-Wright company serving as its co-founder and
major investor. The airline's first aircraft was a Curtiss Robin and it was
flown on domestic routes as a mail and passenger transport.

From September 1929 to May 1930 a Robin C-1 was used to deliver the McCook,
Nebraska Daily Gazette to communities in rural Nebraska and Kansas. The airplane
flew a nonstop route of 380 miles (610 km) daily, dropping bundles of newspapers
from a height of 500 feet (150 m) to local carriers.

A Curtiss Robin C was purchased by the Paraguayan government in 1932 for the
transport squadron of its air arm. It was intensively used as a VIP transport
plane and air ambulance during the Chaco War (1923–1935).

Specifications (Robin OX-5)

General characteristics
Crew: 1
Capacity: 2 pax / 425 lb (193 kg) payload
Length: 25 ft 9 in (7.85 m)
Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in (12.5 m)
Height: 7 ft 10 in (2.4 m)
Wing area: 262.5 sq ft (24.39 m2)
Airfoil: root: Curtiss C-72; tip: Curtiss C-72
Empty weight: 1,475 lb (669 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 2,175 lb (987 kg)
Fuel capacity: 50 US gal (42 imp gal; 190 l) fuel; 5 US gal (4.2 imp gal; 19 l)
oil
Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss OX-5 V-8 water-cooled piston engine, 90 hp (67 kW)
Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propeller

Performance
Maximum speed: 99.7 mph (160.5 km/h, 86.6 kn)
Cruise speed: 85 mph (137 km/h, 74 kn)

Landing speed: 45 mph (39 kn; 72 km/h)
Range: 785 mi (1,263 km, 682 nmi) cruising; 580 mi (500 nmi; 930 km) at full
throttle
Service ceiling: 12,500 ft (3,800 m)
Rate of climb: 450 ft/min (2.3 m/s)
Time to altitude: 3,800 ft (1,200 m) in 10 minutes
Wing loading: 8.2 lb/sq ft (40 kg/m2)
Power/mass: 0.0465 hp/lb (0.0764 kW/kg)




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