Curtiss Falcon

{{short description|American multirole aircraft}} {{Redirect|O2C|the business process|Order to cash|the molecule CO2|Carbon dioxide}}  {{Infobox aircraft |name = Falcon |image = File:Curtiss A-3 Falcon (SN 27-243).jpg |caption = Curtiss A-3 Falcon. This was the first A-3 aircraft, later converted to O-1B. |type = Observation, Attack |manufacturer = Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company |designer = |first_flight = |introduction = 1925 |retired = October 1937 |produced = |number_built = 338 USAAC<ref name="ohnine"/> 150 USN/USMC |status = |unit cost = |primary_user = United States Army Air Corps |more_users = United States Navy United States Marine Corps |developed_from = |variants = }}

The '''Curtiss Falcon''' was a family of military biplane aircraft built by the American aircraft manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company during the 1920s. Most saw service as part of the United States Army Air Corps as observation aircraft with the designations '''O-1''' and '''O-11''', or as the attack aircraft designated the '''A-3 Falcon'''.

U.S. Navy variants were used initially as fighter-bombers with the designation '''F8C Falcon''', then as the first U.S. Marine Corps dive bombers with the name '''Helldiver'''. Two later generations of Curtiss dive-bombers were also named Helldiver.

The type was introduced in 1925 and saw first-line service in the United States until 1934. Curtiss Falcons fought in the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932 in Brazil, used by the forces of São Paulo.

==Design and development== The '''Falcon XO-1''' prototype was evaluated by the USAAC along with eleven other prototypes in 1924 and the Douglas XO-2 was declared the winner of that competition. So Curtiss re-engined the prototype with the Packard 1A-1500 for the 1925 trials, which it won. The engine failed to live up to expectations and the '''O-1''' ordered by the Army was fitted with the 435 hp (324 kW) Curtiss V-1150 (D-12) engine.<ref name="ohnine"/>

The aircraft was a conventional unequal-span biplane design with wooden wings, while the fuselage was built using aluminum tubing with steel tie rod bracing.<ref name="world">{{cite book |editor1-last=Eden |editor1-first=Paul |editor2-last=Moeng |editor2-first=Soph |title=The complete encyclopedia of world aircraft |date=2002 |publisher=Barnes & Noble Books |location=London, NI 9PF |isbn=0-7607-3432-1 |page=cover}}</ref> The landing gear was fixed and the tail included a balanced rudder with a rear skid originally, later changed to a tailwheel.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

The initial A-3 Falcon order was placed in the winter of 1927 and delivery of the first plane was in October 1927. A total of 76 A-3s were received. Later, six aircraft were modified as pilot trainers with dual controls and redesignated A-3A. A second batch of 78 improved A-3Bs, based on the Curtiss O-1E, was purchased beginning in 1929.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==Operational history== {{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}} thumb|Curtiss OC-2s in flight, c. 1929 Reasonably successful as an observation aircraft, Falcons flew primarily in the 1st, 5th and 99th Observation Squadrons of the 9th Observation Group, Mitchel Field, New York. The A-3 Attack Falcon saw considerable use, in first-line service with the 8th, 13th and 19th Attack Squadrons of the 3rd Attack Group, Barksdale Field, Louisiana, and the 26th Attack Squadron in Hawaii from 1928 to 1934 and second-line service with reserve units until 1937.

The U.S. Navy introduced the F8C-1 and F8C-3 Falcon as a shipboard fighter in 1927–1928. They were later redesignated OC-1 and OC-2 for Marine Corps use as an observation/bomber, due to large carriers not being able to carry medium or heavy bombers.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Air Force Association |last2=United States |date=1918 |title=Air force magazine. |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/102285635 |journal=Air force |pages=v. |issn=0730-6784}}</ref> The F8C-4 Helldiver variant initially saw service with the Navy<ref name=":0" />, and the first production batch of 25 was transferred in 1931 to the Marine Corps. A total of 34 F8Cs redesignated as O2C-1 observation aircraft were also transferred to the Naval Reserve in 1931, serving with squadrons VN-10RD9, VN-11RD9, and VN-12RD9. Most of the 63 newer F8C-5/O2C-1 Helldivers also served with the Marines, remaining in service until 1936. The type was featured in multiple Hollywood films: ''Flight'' (1929), ''Hell Divers'' (1932) and ''King Kong'' (1933). Two non-flying replicas were built for ''King Kong'' (2005)

Curtiss Falcon aircraft fought during the Brazil Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932, under the flag of São Paulo. In Bolivia, the aircraft type also fought in the Chaco War (1932–1935), bombing Paraguayan troops.<ref name="Hagedorn">{{cite book |last1=Hagedorn |first1=Dan |last2=Sapienza |first2=Antonio Luis |title=Aircraft of the Chaco War |date=2000 |publisher=Schiffer Pub |isbn=0-7643-0146-2 |page=144}}</ref><ref name="Corum">{{Cite journal |last=Corum |first=James S. |date=3 February 2003 |title=O Poder Aéreo na Guerra do Chaco |trans-title=Air Power in the Chaco War |url=http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/apjinternational/apj-p/2003/1tri03/corum.html |url-status=dead |journal=Air & Space Power Journal |language=pt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170218063524/http://www.airpower.maxwell.af.mil/apjinternational/apj-p/2003/1tri03/corum.html |archive-date=18 February 2017 |access-date=12 April 2019}}</ref> The Colombian Air Force used Falcon F-8 and O-1 in the Colombia-Peru War in 1932–3.

==Variants== <ref name="world" />

===U.S. Army Air Corps=== ;A-3: Model 44, attack aircraft version of O-1B, armed with two 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns and 200 lb (91 kg) of bombs; 66 built for the USAAC. ;A-3A: Six A-3s converted into trainers. ;A-3B: Model 37H, attack version of O-1E, with six machine guns, including two mounted in wings; 78 built. thumb|right|Curtiss XA-4 Falcon ;XA-4: One A-3 with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340-1 Wasp radial piston engine. Scrapped in March 1932, but the design was the basis for the naval variants. ;A-5: Proposed A-3 variant with Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror engine ;A-6: Proposed A-3 variant with Curtiss H-1640 Chieftain engine thumb|right|XBT-4 ;XBT-4: Model 46, one O-1E converted into a basic trainer for the USAAC. ;XO-1:Liberty 12A powered Prototype, later modified to use a Packard 1A-1500, one built. ;O-1: Model 37A, two-seat observation aircraft, the first production model, ten built. One converted into the '''O-1 Special''' VIP transport. ;O-1A: Two-seat observation aircraft, powered by the Liberty piston engine, one built. ;O-1B: Model 37B, first major production version, powered by Curtiss D-12D (V-1150-3) engine; 45 ordered, 25 built and 20 diverted on the production line to the A-3. ;O-1C: Four O-1Bs converted into VIP transports. ;O-1E: Model 37I, variant powered by {{cvt|435|hp}} Curtiss D-12E (V-1150-5) piston engine; 41 built. ;O-1F: Model 37J, one O-1E converted into VIP transport. ;O-1G: Model 38, final O-1 variant, powered by a {{convert|712|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Wright R-1820F-2 Cyclone engine; 30 built for USAAC. ;XO-11: Two O-1 modified as O-11 prototypes. ;O-11: O-1 airframe powered by the Liberty V-1650 piston engine; 67 built concurrently with the O-1s. ;XO-12: One XO-11 prototype redesignated XO-12. ;XO-13: O-1 fitted with {{cvt|720|hp}} Conqueror engine for the 1927 National Air Races. ;XO-13A: Second XO-13, fitted with wing skin radiators. ;O-13B: One O-1C fitted with a Conqueror engine, tested as an observation aircraft, and provided to Secretary of War. ;YO-13C: Three O-1Es re-engined with {{cvt|600|hp}} direct-drive Conqueror engines. ;YO-13D: One O-11 fitted with supercharged Conqueror engine. ;XO-16: One O-11 with Prestone cooling system. ;XO-18: One O-1B testbed for Curtiss H-1640 Chieftain engine. ;Y1O-26: One O-1E fitted with a geared Conqueror engine. ;O-39: O-1G refitted with a Conqueror engine and cockpit canopy; ten built.

===U.S. Navy and Marine Corps=== thumb|Marine Corps Curtiss OC-2 Falcon, c. 1929 thumb|right|The XF8C-2 prototype thumb|right|The XF8C-4 prototype thumb|Curtiss F8C-5 Formation, circa 1930 thumb|right|The XF8C-7 ;A-3 Helldiver: Registry name of XF8C-8, not adopted by USN. ;A-4 Helldiver: Civil version of XF8C-8 for use by Assistant Secretary of Navy David Ingalls. Later redesignated XF8C-7. ;XF8C-1: Model 37C variant developed from XO-12; two built for the U.S. Navy. ;F8C-1 Falcon: Model 37C powered by the {{cvt|420|hp}} Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial piston engine; four built in 1928 for the U.S. Marine Corps as light bombers, fighters and observation aircraft, later redesignated '''OC-1'''. ;XF8C-2: Model 49, one prototype for F8C Helldiver. Original crashed on first factory flight and was replaced by Curtiss with a second bearing identical sn. ;F8C-3 Falcon: Second production batch of Navy Falcons; 21 built for USN/USMC in 1928, later redesignated '''OC-2'''. ;XF8C-4: Second Helldiver prototype, modified tail skid assembly. ;F8C-4 Helldiver: Model 49B, production dive-bomber variant for the USN/USMC; 25 built, later designated '''O2C'''. ;F8C-5 Helldiver: Model 49B with ring cowling; 63 built in 1930–31, later designated O2C-1. ;XF8C-6: Two F8C-5s modified with superchargers, slats, and wing flaps; one later modified as O2C-2. ;XF8C-7: Redesignation of A-4 Helldiver, later redesignated XO2C-2. ;XF8C-8: Two prototypes built with canopy-enclosed front cockpit, later redesignated '''O2C-2'''. ;O2C-1 Helldiver: Redesignation of 63 F8C-5; 30 production O2C-1s in 1931. ;O2C-2 Helldiver: Redesignation of XF8C-8s and one XF8C-6. ;XOC-3: One XF8C-1 prototype fitted with a Chieftain engine. ;XF10C-1:O2C-2 re-engined with a R-1510 engine, also temporary designated '''XS3C-1'''.

===Civil and export=== ;Civil Falcon: 20 civil versions: Conqueror Mail plane; D-12 Mailplane; ''Lindbergh Special'', sold to Charles Lindbergh; Liberty Mailplane, 14 single-seat mailplanes, powered by a Liberty piston engines, sold to National Air Transport. ;Export Falcon: also '''South American D-12 Falcon'''. One seaplane version of the O-1B was sold to Colombia, followed by an order for 15 more. Another 10 Model 35Fs were sold to Peru.<ref>{{Harvnb|Bowers|1979|p=311.}}</ref> ;Colombia Cyclone Falcon: Model 37F fitted with the {{cvt|712|hp}} Wright Cyclone radial piston engine. 100 built for Colombia. ;Chilean Falcon: O-1E design built under license in Chile, 10 later sold to Brazil. One example ended up in Paraguay as passage fee for the remaining aircraft. It operated mostly as a VIP transport, but made at last one reconnaissance flight over the Chaco war fields armed with two {{cvt|7.7|mm|3}} machine-guns from a Potez. ;Bolivia Cyclone Falcon: Similar to Colombian Falcon, it was fitted with the {{cvt|712|hp}} Wright SR-1820F-2 Cyclone radial piston engine. A total of nine were built for Bolivia in some odd variants from the Colombian ones. Bolivian Cyclone Falcons mounted one frontal .30 MG and most also one rear .30 MG instead of the two wing-mounted ones. Two had semi-cockpit canopies over pilots cockpit; two had windscreens instead of canopy in both cockpits, these two had no ring mount for rear machine gun.

==Operators== {{Unreferenced section|date=January 2021}}

===Military operators=== ;{{BOL}} *Bolivian Air Force ;{{Flag|Brazil|1889}} *Public Force of São Paulo State *Brazilian Air Force ;{{CHI}} *Chilean Air Force ;{{COL}} *Colombian Air Force ;{{FIN}} *Finnish Air Force{{cn|date=December 2023}} ;{{PAR}} *Paraguayan Air Force ;{{flag|Peru|1825}} *Peruvian Air Force ;{{flag|Philippines|1936}} *Philippine Army Air Corps ;{{flag|United States|1912}} *United States Army Air Corps *United States Marines *United States Navy

===Civil operators=== ;{{flag|United States|1912}} *National Air Transport operated 14 aircraft.

== Aircraft on display == Although no surviving original examples of the Curtiss Falcon family exist today, two 1:1 scale model Helldivers exist, having been produced for the 2005 film ''King Kong'' by production company Wingnut Films in New Zealand, in conjunction with The Vintage Aviator Limited (TVAL),<ref>{{Cite web |title=Curtiss F8C Helldiver {{!}} The Vintage Aviator |url=https://thevintageaviator.co.nz/projects/aircraft/curtiss-f8c-helldiver |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=thevintageaviator.co.nz}}</ref> a company specialising in vehicle model production. One of the two scale models is currently on display at Hood Aerodrome in Masterton, while the other is in storage at a facility in Wellington.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CURTISS F8C HELLDIVER · The Encyclopedia of Aircraft David C. Eyre |url=https://aeropedia.com.au/content/curtiss-f8c/ |access-date=2026-01-07 |website=Aeropedia |language=en-US}}</ref>

==Specifications Model 37H (A-3B)== {{Aircraft specs |ref=Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947,<ref name=Bowers>{{cite book |last1=Bowers |first1=Peter M. |title=Curtiss aircraft, 1907–1947 |date=1979 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0370100298 |pages=292–302}}</ref> United States military aircraft since 1909<ref name="ohnine">{{cite book |last1=Swanborough |first1=Gordon |last2=Bowers |first2=Peter M. |title=United States military aircraft since 1909 |date=1964 |publisher=Putnam |location=New York |isbn=0-85177-816-X |page=179 |edition=New}}</ref> |prime units?=imp  |crew=2 |length ft=27 |length in=7 |length note= |span ft=38 |span in=0 |height ft=10 |height in=3 |height note= |wing area sqft=351 |wing area note= |aspect ratio= |airfoil=Clark Y<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref> |empty weight lb=2902 |empty weight note= |gross weight lb=4476 |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general=  |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Curtiss D-12E (V-1150-5) |eng1 type=V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine |eng1 hp=426

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=fixed-pitch propeller |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note=  |max speed mph=139.4 |max speed note= |max speed mach= |cruise speed mph=111 |cruise speed note= |stall speed mph= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed note= |range miles=647 |range note=with {{cvt|100|USgal|impgal l}} fuel |combat range miles= |combat range note= |ferry range miles= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=14400 |ceiling note= |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ftmin=948 |climb rate note= |time to altitude= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |thrust/weight=

|more performance=  |guns= 4 × forward-firing {{cvt|0.30|in|2}} M1919 Browning machine guns and 2 × flexible {{cvt|0.30|in|2}} Lewis guns on a Scarff ring in the rear cockpit. |bombs= {{cvt|200|lb}} of bombs mounted on lower wing racks. }}

==See also== {{aircontent| |related= |similar aircraft= |lists= *List of military aircraft of the United States |see also= }}

==References== {{reflist}}

==Bibliography== *{{cite journal |last1=Layman |first1=R. D. |title=Question 15/91: Early USN Aircraft |journal=Warship International |date=1993 |volume=XXX |issue=3 |page=318 |issn=0043-0374}} *{{cite magazine|last=Hagedorn|first=Dan|title=Curtiss Types in Latin America|magazine=Air Enthusiast|date=March–May 1992|issue=45 |pages=61–77 |issn=0143-5450}} * Hagedorn, Dan and Antonio Luis Sapienza. ''Aircraft of the Chaco War''. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2000. {{ISBN|0-7643-0146-2}}.

==External links== {{commons category|Curtiss Falcon}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140416054034/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2879 Curtiss A-3 fact sheet on National Museum of the USAF website] *[https://web.archive.org/web/20140416054935/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2885 Curtiss A-3B fact sheet on National Museum of the USAF website] *[http://www.americancombatplanes.com/curtiss_1.html Curtiss Falcons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701132406/http://www.americancombatplanes.com/curtiss_1.html |date=2017-07-01 }} History and specifications from the reference book ''American Combat Planes of the 20th Century'' by Ray Wagner *[https://books.google.com/books?id=q-MDAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA936 "The West Point Of The Air""] ''Popular Mechanics'', June 1930—photos pages 936 (middle), 939 (top) and 940 (bottom)

{{Curtiss aircraft}} {{AircraftDesignationNavboxShell |1={{USAF attack aircraft}} |2={{USN fighters}} |3={{USAAF observation aircraft}} |4={{USN observation aircraft}} |5={{USN scout aircraft}} |6={{USAF trainer aircraft}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Falcon, Curtiss}} Falcon family Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft Category:Biplanes Category:1920s United States attack aircraft Category:1920s United States fighter aircraft Category:1920s United States mailplanes Category:Aircraft first flown in 1925 Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear Category:Single-engined piston aircraft