WIGGINS-FITZ COLLECTION

No. 4193. Curtiss 18-T-1 Wasp (A-3325) US Navy

Aeroplane Photo Supply (APS) Photo No. 3124

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08/31/2014. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "In March 1918, the USN authorized Curtiss to build two two-seat fighter triplanes
designed at Garden City by Curtiss engineer Charles Kirkham, BuNo. A-3325 and A-3326. Although these were identified in
service as Model 18T (for triplane) and were also known as Curtiss-Kirkhams, they carried the Curtiss engineering designation of
Experimental 502.

The Model 18 was designed specifically for the 400 hp Curtiss-Kirkham K-12 engine, a water-cooled geared V-12 type of
somewhat unorthodox construction developed late in 1917. The K-12 gave the Model 18 world-record performance in 1918 and
evolved into the C-12 and eventually into the D-12 and the Conqueror.

The fuselage was a well-streamlined structure featuring a combination of previous Curtiss flying-boat practice and German
laminated wood veneer construction in a new process called Curtiss ply. The nose was kept as streamlined as possible by
mounting the radiators on the sides of the fuselage. Armament was a pair of 0.30 in (7.62 mm) caliber Marlin machine guns on the
nose, a pair of 0.30 in (7.62 mm) caliber Lewis guns on the rear cockpit Scarff ring, and a single Lewis firing out of the belly.

Kirkham chose the triplane configuration for his new fighter because the shorter span would enhance the maneuverability. The '-1'
was added to the designation after alternate wings of longer span became available on the '-2' version. In all configurations, the
Model 18T was known as the Wasp but, because of the sound of its wires during landing approaches, it was known around
Garden City as Whistling Benny.

For its first flight, on July 5, 1918, the Model 18T had straight wings; tail heaviness was soon corrected by sweeping the wings
back five degrees. The Army became interested in the design and arranged to borrow the first one from the Navy. Tests with full
military load in August 1918 produced a top speed of 163 mph (262 kmh), making the Model 18T the world's fastest aircraft at the
time even though the record was not recognized. The Army then ordered two Model 18Ts of its own with Army serial numbers
40054 and 40059.

No Navy production orders were received for the Model 18T; its hand-built engine was more experimental than the aircraft itself and
the end of the war killed any requirement for it as a Service type. The speed of the Model 18T-1 was put to good use, however,
since the Navy entered both examples in postwar air races. Both were flown in the 1920 Pulitzer Trophy Race but dropped out
because of engine trouble. As single-float seaplanes, both were entered in the 1922 Curtiss Marine Trophy Race.

A-3325 (painted green, Race No.5) dropped out with engine trouble and A-3326 (painted yellow, Race No.4) was in the lead when
it ran out of fuel just short of the finishing line. As landplanes again, both were entered in the 1923 Liberty Engine Builder's Trophy
Race for Service two-seaters. A-3325 crashed during a trial flight and A-3326 (Race No.3) broke its crankshaft during the race and
was destroyed.

The first of the two Army 18T-1s was delivered to McCook Field for static test in February 1919.

Since the Navy had no urgent need for both Model 18s after the Armistice, A-3325 was left at Garden City for further testing. A
longer set of wings, with two bays of struts and a span of 40 ft 7.5 in (12.25 m), was fitted, creating the Model 18T-2 designation.
On September 18, 1919, Curtiss test pilot Roland Rholfs set a new world's altitude record of 34,910 ft (10,640 m) with this aircraft.
Fitted with floats, A-3325 also set a world's seaplane altitude record.

In 1919, Curtiss built a fifth Model 18T as a civil aircraft. Fitted with long wings, it was sold to Bolivia, where it became the first
aircraft to fly from the capital city of La Paz at an elevation of 13,500 ft (4,115 m). After consistent performance there it crashed on
May 19, 1921.

After introducing the Model 18T, Curtiss offered the same design with more conventional two-bay biplane wings and designated
it Model 18B Hornet. This was known as Experimental 510 but was publicized as the Hornet. The Army ordered two in August
1918, with Army serial numbers 40058 and 40064. The first was delivered for static test in June 1919; the flight test aircraft
crashed soon after delivery."

A 18T-1 18T-2 18B

Span: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m) 40 ft 7.5 in (12.25 m) 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m)

Length: 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m) 28 ft 3.875 in (8.63 m) 23 ft 4 in (7.11 m)
Height: 10 ft 2 in (3.09 m) 12 ft 0 in (3.65 m) -
Wing area: 288 sq.ft (26.75 sq.m) 400 sq.ft (37.16 sq.m) 306 sq.ft (28.42 sq.m)
Weight empty: 1,980 lb (898 kg) 2,417 lb (1,096 kg) 1,690 lb (766 kg)
Gross weight: 3,050 lb (1,383 kg) 3,572 lb (1,620 kg) 2,867 lb (1,300 kg)
Max speed: 163 mph (262 kmh) 139 mph (224 kmh) -
Climb in 10 min: 12,500 ft (3,810 m) 10,400 ft (3,1706 m) -
Service ceiling: 23,000 ft (7,010 m) 21,000 ft (6,400 m) -
Endurance: 5 hr 54 min - -

Created May 1, 2005