Curtiss-Orenco D1919 |
Virtual Aircraft Museum / USA / Curtiss | |
The first single-seat fighter of indigenous US design to achieve production status, the Model D was conceived around the 300hp Hispano-Suiza H eight-cylinder water-cooled engine. The first of four prototypes built by the Ordnance Engineering Corporation (Orenco) was completed in January 1919. Curtiss was assigned a production contract for 50 aircraft and undertook some redesign. This included the introduction of dihedral and overhanging, balanced ailerons, and revision of the engine installation. Of wooden construction with plycovered fuselage and fabric-covered wings, the Curtiss- built Model D utilised a 330hp Wright-built derivative of the French engine and carried an armament of two 7.62mm machine guns, deliveries commencing in August 1921. One Model D was experimentally fitted with French Lamblin radiators attached to the fuselage sides, and another was fitted with a turbo-supercharger for high altitude trials.
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