Shortround6
Major General
There was somewhat more private speculation going on in the 1930s.
Aviation was the leading technology, at least in the public eye. Money could be raised and prototypes built much easier than post war. The Planes were simpler
Also a number of planes were derivatives. Seversky designed one plane (somewhat joking) see. Seversky Aircraft
and then kept modifying it.
Curtiss may well have lost money on the CW-21 but it was an attempt to make money on previous work. The CW 19
Some of those prototypes were speculative.
Aircraft in the 1930s were like cell phones today. A few years can make a huge difference. Put that together with congress not willing to spend money and the USAAC had to be very careful what they spent money on. Interest did not always turn into hard orders.
The Original Hawk 75 airframe went through at least 4 engine types in it's life. two 14 cylinder radials, one 9 cylinder radial and an Allison V-12 (original Hawk 75 was also the XP-37)
The YP-36s used a 5th engine.
From Joe Baughers website.
" With the R-1830 engine, the Y1P-36 did so well that it won a 1937 Army competition, and on July 7, 1937, the Army ordered 210 P-36As, the largest single US military aircraft order since the First World War. Curtiss's private venture had finally paid off."
It took over two years to get that order. And 4 different engines tried in the airframe that gained about 50% in power from the first engine.
However note that the USAAC would put out a requirement and ask companies to "bid".
Company showing up with design in hand and telling the USAAC that their requirement and tactical thinking were out of date and design X would solve problems they didn't know they had might not go very well.
Aviation was the leading technology, at least in the public eye. Money could be raised and prototypes built much easier than post war. The Planes were simpler
Also a number of planes were derivatives. Seversky designed one plane (somewhat joking) see. Seversky Aircraft
and then kept modifying it.
Curtiss may well have lost money on the CW-21 but it was an attempt to make money on previous work. The CW 19
Some of those prototypes were speculative.
The USAAC was very interested in single engine "interceptors", however they had to meet USAAC requirements/needs.
Aircraft in the 1930s were like cell phones today. A few years can make a huge difference. Put that together with congress not willing to spend money and the USAAC had to be very careful what they spent money on. Interest did not always turn into hard orders.
The Original Hawk 75 airframe went through at least 4 engine types in it's life. two 14 cylinder radials, one 9 cylinder radial and an Allison V-12 (original Hawk 75 was also the XP-37)
The YP-36s used a 5th engine.
From Joe Baughers website.
" With the R-1830 engine, the Y1P-36 did so well that it won a 1937 Army competition, and on July 7, 1937, the Army ordered 210 P-36As, the largest single US military aircraft order since the First World War. Curtiss's private venture had finally paid off."
It took over two years to get that order. And 4 different engines tried in the airframe that gained about 50% in power from the first engine.
However note that the USAAC would put out a requirement and ask companies to "bid".
Company showing up with design in hand and telling the USAAC that their requirement and tactical thinking were out of date and design X would solve problems they didn't know they had might not go very well.