Photo Curtiss Aircraft

[musec04]

Hi Nick,


Thanks for your efforts.Looking back through the Canada based JN-4 photos I'd copied. I notice that I appear to have missed C478 which can be found here:


https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/203602895...oAAOSwiJxhKle0


Regards,


Clint

[musec04]

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of Curtiss JN-2 serial number 48 at:


https://www.ebay.com/itm/37372770906...wAAOSwK5ZhP7hv


Regards,


Clint

[musec04]

Hello,


Currently on ebay is a photo of a Curtiss Model F serial C-2 of the US Navy at:


https://www.ebay.com/itm/11503264099...AAAOSwUs5hXjzS


Regards,


Clint

[Buckeye30]

Clint. The JN-2 serial SC.48 was wrecked during the Mexican operations, 20 March 1916; it was fitted with JN-3 wings. They would normally have the very early insignia, a red star on the rudder.
( the caption says " on the Mexican border").
This batch was serials 41-48 but the "S.C." was omitted on the fuselage.


Nick

[Buckeye30]

Hi George. Am I right in thinking the "F" boats numbered C-1 to 5 were the ones re-designated AB-1 to 5 on 25/3/14 ? ( "A" = Curtiss, "B" = flying boat).
If so C-2 / AB-2 made the first catapult launch from a ship ( BB USS North Carolina) on 5/11/15; pilot was Naval Aviator no.11 Lt.Cdr. Mustin.
Lake Keuka was Hammondsport NY. where C-2 flew under a Sperry gyro auto pilot.



Clint -forgot to mention the JN-2s and -3s were assigned to the 1st. Aero Squadron ( ex-Provisional) for the Mexican flights.
Nick

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by Buckeye30

Hi George. Am I right in thinking the "F" boats numbered C-1 to 5 were the ones re-designated AB-1 to 5 on 25/3/14 ? ( "A" = Curtiss, "B" = flying boat).
If so C-2 / AB-2 made the first catapult launch from a ship ( BB USS North Carolina) on 5/11/15; pilot was Naval Aviator no.11 Lt.Cdr. Mustin.
Lake Keuka was Hammondsport NY. where C-2 flew under a Sperry gyro auto pilot.
Nick

Not entirely

The C-1 was an E-boat, while the other four were F-boats.
The official US Navy's re-designation date was 14 March 1914 making C-1/C-5 AB-1/AB-5.
The AB-2 was destroyed 17 March 1915 during another catapult launch.

George

According to Casari the Sperry control "gadget" was taken out of the C-2 when it was delivered to the US Navy in October 1913 and was shipped to Annapolis where it flew for the first time on 2 Nov 1913.
He also says the C-2 was used from April 1914 to basically when it was w/o doing catapult tests in USA.
He makes no mentioning of any trials in France.
What was the involvement of the US Navy with these trials in France?
When did it move to France and when did it return?

Cheers
Stig

[Buckeye30]

Thanks Stig.
As I've found over time..........
41 = wrecked 19 March
42 = dismantled 15 April
43 = (burned)= 19 April
44 = crashed 16 April
45 = condemned NM

48 = wrecked 20 March
52 = force-landed 14 April
53 condemned NM
According to Lee Arbon the 8 (crated) JNs were transported by train to Columbus NM on the 13th then took off for Casas Grandes on the evening of the 19th with varying success; one returned, four only got half-way and three ran out of gas and landed in the dark.
A sign of future results.
Nick

[Stig Jarlevik]

Wow Nick

Thanks a lot!!
Looks like Casari missed the actual departure date in his book. The way it is written it is easily interpreted as the evening of the 13th.
However it fits great with a departure on 19 March 1916
The two which were caught out in the head wind looks like No 41 and 48.
Maybe the latter was safe on the 19th but crashed the next day trying to catch up?
Great to have the exact date when No 42 was "slaughtered"
The other two lost in April must be No 52 and 44
No 43 (according to Casari) was lost due to engine failure so likely to have been burned when it crashed.

May I just ask who Lee Arbon is/was? Name does not ring any bells sorry to say....

Cheers
Stig

[twocee]

Sorry Stig, but I have no further information about the French adventure of Lawrence Sperry and the nature of the US Navy's involvement (if any).

[Stig Jarlevik]

Originally Posted by twocee

Sorry Stig, but I have no further information about the French adventure of Lawrence Sperry and the nature of the US Navy's involvement (if any).

Hmm, I see

May I ask, George, from where does the notion it was C-2 which was used in France?

The Sperry gyro was used in many Curtiss flying boats and it seems Curtiss was more interested in it than the Navy.

It seems odd to me that the US Navy should bail back an aircraft to Curtiss (and Sperry) when there were plenty of 'boats around at Hammondsport....

Cheers
Stig