"but the resulting aircraft in its landplane form was almost certainly the ugliest aircraft to be produced by the Curtiss company".
I suspect the author of this article doesn't know about the Curtiss C-76 Caravan?
Oldgysgt, e-mail, 11.01.2016 05:36
The Curtiss Model 82 / SO3C Seamew is an example of what can happen when a company is over managed to the point that “dry rot” sets in at the top. This piece of crap airplane was so bad that the Curtiss Model 71 / SOC Seagull BIPLANE had to be recalled from training schools and scrap depots to replace it. In 1940 Curtiss was the oldest and probably the most important producer of military aircraft for the US government; before the end of the decade they were out of the airframe making business. That’s what I call “running a company into the ground”.
Carlos A .P., e-mail, 14.08.2011 06:43
This aircraft Curtiss seaplane was very important in rescue of pilots and the engine Ranger of 447 kW help to important work.
Steve, e-mail, 09.09.2009 17:54
Re. landing gear: Only a minority of a typical USN floatplane order was delivered on floats. The bulk would be delivered with wheeled gear, along with enough floats for part of them - to be mounted as needed, probably by a maintenance depot. For local patrol and utility work, the wheeled landing gear was apparently considered more useful.
Larry Foley, e-mail, 20.01.2009 23:14
I need a high resolution image of the so3c used on this site for an educational TV documentary. How owns the rights and how may I obtain a high resolution image?
Arthur Lee, e-mail, 21.04.2007 01:43
Did this aircraft have easily attachable fixed wheels if the floats were removed? Many photos show landing gear with "pants." Were any mlg temporary in nature?