Curtiss 18

The Curtiss 18T was intended to protect bombing aircraft over France, and a primary requisite for this job was speed. Speed was not the triplane's only salient feature: an 18T-2 set a new altitude record in 1919 of 34,910 ft (10,640 m).^[2] The streamlined and very "clean" fuselage contributed to the aircraft's performance. The basic construction was based on cross-laminated strips of wood veneer formed on a mold and attached to the inner structure. The technique was a refinement of that used on the big Curtiss flying boats.^[3]

Flown by Roland Rholfs, the 18T achieved a world speed record of 163 mph (262 km/h) in August 1918 carrying a full military load of 1,076 lb (488 kg).^[4]

The Model 18T-2 was an improved version of its predecessor, with 50 additional horsepower. The wings of the new model were swept back. It was also 5 ft (150 cm) longer with a 9 ft (270 cm) larger two-bay wing, though its operational ceiling was 2,000 ft (610 m) lower.

After World War I, it was employed as a racing plane: an 18T-2 nearly won the Curtiss Marine Trophy Race in 1922 (limited to U.S. Navy pilots), but the pilot, Lt. Sanderson ran out of fuel just before the finish line.^[5]

Curtiss Engineering followed the Model 18T with the Model 18B, unofficially known as the "Hornet", built to otherwise similar specifications.

Model 18T or 18T-1

Two-seat fighter triplane with single-bay wings, powered by a 400 hp (300 kW) Curtiss K-12 piston engine. Referred to by the US Navy as the "Kirkham". Originally designated 18T, the type was redesignated the 18T-1 when the prototype was modified to a new configuration designated 18T-2 (see below).

Model 18T-2

18T with longer-span two-bay wings. Could be fitted with floatplane or landplane landing gear.

Model 18B

Biplane fighter version, known unofficially as the "Hornet". Sole flying prototype of Curtiss 18B, USAAS 40058, 'P-86', crashed early in flight trials at McCook Field, Dayton, Ohio, summer 1919. Type not ordered into production. One non-flying prototype also delivered for static testing.^[6]

 United States

• United States Navy

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947^[7]

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m)
• Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
• Height: 10 ft 2 in (3.10 m)
• Wing area: 288 sq ft (26.8 m²)
• Airfoil: Sloane^[8]
• Empty weight: 1,980 lb (898 kg)
• Gross weight: 3,050 lb (1,383 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss K-12 V-12 water-cooled piston engine, 400 hp (300 kW)
• Propellers: 2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

• Maximum speed: 163 mph (262 km/h, 142 kn)
• Endurance: 5 hours 54 minutes
• Service ceiling: 23,000 ft (7,000 m)
• Time to altitude: 12,500 ft (3,800 m) in 10 minutes

Armament

• Guns:
  

Primary: 2 × forward-firing synchronized 0.300 in (7.62 mm) Marlin Rockwell M1917/M1918 machine-guns

Secondary: 2 × 0.300 in (7.62 mm) Lewis guns on a Scarff ring in the rear-cockpit plus 1 × Lewis gun firing through an aperture in the aircraft's belly