Curtiss XBT2C Curtiss XBTC

[johnbr]

The first Curtiss attacker proposal was the XBTC. The XBTC was a complicated design, using contra-rotating propellers and full-span duplex flaps. As originally designed, it had a payload of just 2,000lb, allowing for the carriage of a single torpedo. Testing began in January 1945, with tests finding that it had "first-class performance and weapon-carrying capacity." Despite glowing reviews, it would not be selected for production, likely due to its technical complexity and the fact that the AM and BT2D (AD Skyraider) had already been ordered into production. Curtiss looked into de-navalizing the design under the designation A-40 for the USAAF, but these plans fell through after the USAAF announced that it would no longer acquire any more single-
Parallel to the ambitious XBTC, Curtiss would create the more conservative XBT2C as a backup. The XBT2C used a lower-powered Wright Duplex Cyclone engine and reduced the four-cannon armament of its predecessor to just two, but it offered reduced complexity over the XBTC. Further boosting chances of production, Curtiss offered a two-seater variant equipped with a radar for patrol duties. First flying in March 1945, it would gain more interest than the XBTC, leading to an order for ten prototypes. However, with nine completed, the program was cancelled due to the selection of the Douglas and Martin designs.
Specifications:
XBTC
Engine: 1 Pratt and Whitney R-4360-8A Wasp Major 28-cylinder radial (3,000hp).
Length: 11.89m
Wingspan: 15.24m
Height: 3.94m
Empty Weight: 6,083 kg (13,410 lbs)
Loaded Weight with one Mk 13 torpedo: 9,825 kg (21,660 lbs)
Maximum Speed: 602 kmh (374 mph)
Crew: 1
Armament: Four 20mm AN/M2 cannons, up to 2,000 lbs of bombs or one Mk 13 torpedo.
Number Built: 2
XBT2C
Engine: 1 Wright R-3350-24 Duplex-Cyclone 18-cylinder radial (2,500hp).

Length: 11.93m

Wingspan: 14.53m

Height: 3.68m

Empty Weight: 5,565 kg (12,268 lbs)

Loaded Weight: 8,628 kg (19,022 lbs)

Maximum Speed: 531 kmh (330 mph)

Crew: 2 (Pilot, Radar Operator)

Armament: Two 20mm AN/M2 cannons, up to 2,000 lbs of bombs or one Mk 13 torpedo.

Number Built: 9

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

Curtiss-Wright XF14C-2View attachment 499035

 

[Wurger]

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

 

[Graeme]

Nice Curtiss pics.

Post No.5 is the XP-60C.

 

[Wurger]

 

[Zipper730]

The first Curtiss attacker proposal was the XBTC. The XBTC was a complicated design, using contra-rotating propellers and full-span duplex flaps.

When you say duplex flaps do you mean double-slotted?

Parallel to the ambitious XBTC, Curtiss would create the more conservative XBT2C as a backup.

Was this at Curtiss or the USN request?

 

[Gnomey]

Nice shots!

 

[johnbr]

he one-off Curtiss XF14-C. On the date that the USN let a contract for its development, they also issued contracts to Grumman which ultimately would result in the Hellcat and the Tigercat. While these two Grumman cats would go down in naval aviation history, the Curtiss fighter would fail to live up to its designers' predictions. 1000aircraftphotos.com writes: "On 30 June 1941, Curtiss was awarded a development contract for the XF14C-1 single-seat high-altitude shipboard fighter, to be powered by the still experimental 2,200 hp Lycoming XH-2470-4 liquid cooled engine. Wind tunnel tests conducted by the Navy in October 1942 indicated that Curtiss engineers had been somewhat optimistic in their performance estimates, inadequate by contemporary standards. This, and the still existing prejudice by the Navy against liquid-cooled engines, led to the cancellation of the XF14C-1. However, Curtiss was requested to adapt the airframe for the turbo-supercharged 2,300 hp Wright XR-3350-16 two-row eighteen cylinder air-cooled radial engine, driving a six-bladed contra-propeller. Designated XF14C-2, the aircraft was flown in September 1943, but not delivered to the USN until July 1944. The XF14C-2 performance, too, was below manufacturer's guarantees, and with the tide of war in the Pacific running in favour of the USA, the altitude capability needs diminished

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

Curtiss XBT2C 1945

 

[johnbr]

 

[johnbr]

nasa testing

 

[johnbr]

Curtiss-Wright XF14C-2
The Curtiss XF14C was an American naval fighter aircraft. It was developed by Curtiss-Wright in response to a request by the United States Navy in 1941 to produce a new shipboard high-performance fighter aircraft.
Design and development:
In 1941 the US Navy requested a better-performing carrier-based fighter plane, to be powered by the proposed high performance 24-cylinder liquid cooled Lycoming XH-2470 Hyper engine. This was an unusual step for the Navy, which had been adamant to that time that all its aircraft use air-cooled radial engines.
On June 30, 1941 a contract for two prototype aircraft, designated the XF14C-1, was awarded to the Curtiss-Wright company. On the same date prototype development contracts were also awarded to Grumman Aircraft Engineering Corporation for the single-engine XF6F-1 and the twin engine XF7F-1, both of which would use air-cooled Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engines.
Early in the development the Navy requested better altitude performance and, in view of unsatisfactory progress in the development of the XH-2470 engine, Curtiss adapted the design of the aircraft around the new turbocharged Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone air-cooled radial engine. The aircraft equipped with this eighteen-cylinder twin-row radial air-cooled engine and three bladed contra-rotating propellers was designated the XF14C-2. The XF14C-1 was canceled. Also, looking at the problems of operation at altitudes of about 40,000 feet (12,000 m), the Navy also initiated work on a third version with a pressurized cockpit designated the XF14C-3.

Ultimately, only the XF14C-2 prototype was completed, flying for the first time in July 1944. Moreover, disappointment with performance estimates and delays with the availability of the XR-3350-16 engine coupled with the evaporating tactical need for an extremely high-altitude fighter led to cancellation of the development.

Specifications (XF14C-2):
(Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947)

General characteristics
Crew: one
Length: 37 ft 9 in (11.5 m)
Wingspan: 46 ft (14.02 m)
Height: 17 ft (5.18 m)
Wing area: 375 ft² (34.83 m²)
Empty weight: 10,531 lb (4,777 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 14,950 lb (6,781 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright XR-3350-16 eighteen cylinder twin row air-cooled radial engine, 2,300 hp (1,716 kW)
Performance

Maximum speed: 418 mph (363 knots, 673 km/h) at 32,000 ft (9,800 m)
Cruise speed: 172 mph (150 knots, 277 km/h)
Range: 1,530 mi (1,330 nmi, 2,462 km)
Service ceiling: 39,800 ft (12,100 m)
Rate of climb: 2,700 ft/min (13.7 m/s)
Armament

Guns: 4 × wing mounted 20 mm cannon (planned)

 

[Zipper730]

You know, the weights and climb-rate figures make it kind of like a Naval P-47, except better wing-loading.

 

[Zipper730]

I was doing a little bit of reading and I remember hearing the XBTC had two variants, of which one was powered by an R-3350 and the other by an R-4360; then there was the simpler XBT2C...

Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong, but I'd remember the figures for the XBTC that had the R-4360 being able to slightly exceed 400 mph, which I remember because it was noteworthy for a dive bomber to be that fast. That said, the book I got it from might not be the best source.