| CR-2, CW-19, and CW-23 | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Curtiss-Wright CW-19 Coupe | |
| General information | |
| Type | Civil utility aircraft |
| Manufacturer | Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company,Curtiss-Wright |
| Primary users | Bolivian Armed Forces |
| Number built | 26 |
| History | |
| First flight | 1935 |
| Developed into | Curtiss-Wright CW-21 Curtiss-Wright CW-22 |
TheCurtiss-Wright CW-19 was a civil utility aircraft designed in the United States in the mid-1930s and built in small quantities in a number of variants including theCW-23 military trainer prototype.
Originally conceived as theCurtiss-Robertson CR-2 Coupe shortly before the Curtiss-Wright merger and the dropping of the Curtiss-Robertson brand, it was an all-metal, low-wing cantilever monoplane of conventional configuration with fixed tailwheel undercarriage and side-by-side seating for two. A prominent feature on all versions other than the original CR-2 prototypes was the large "trouser"-style wheel spats. While the design was never perfected for the civil market it was originally intended for, a militarized version was soon developed that replaced the side-by-side cabin with tandem seating and added provision for guns and bombs.
Twenty-six CW-19s of all types were produced. The first was a single CW-19L built in 1935, known as either "Coupe" or "Sparrow" in documents. It would be purchased by the US Government and assigned the registration number NS-69. The second aircraft built was a CW-19W, which featured a much more powerful 145 hpWarner Super Scarab in place of the Lambert engine. It was decided that this aircraft was not well-suited for private civil aviation, and was also discontinued after one prototype.
The military-grade CW-19R saw a significant revision to the cockpit and canopy, removing the old "Coupe" design and replacing it with a tandem-seat sliding glass canopy. Powerplant options varied between theWright R-760E2 andWright R-975E3. A variety of armament options were also available, including a synchronized fuselage-mounted machine gun firing through the propeller arc, two gun pods mounted outboard of the landing gear, a flexible mount for the second aviator to use as a defensive turret, bombs, and an auxiliary fuel tank. Twenty two examples would be produced and would be the only version to be sold, with the majority going to South and Central American countries.
The CW-A19R was an unarmed version of the CW-19R intended for theUSAAC but without any success. It would also be offered on the civil market as the ATC A-629. A total of two CW-A19R would be completed—one company demonstrator for Curtiss-Wright and one sold to a private owner. A third was not completed and rebuilt as aCW-22.
A CW-B19R was planned and advertised, based upon the CW-A19R but with a four or five-seat civilian cabin, but it was not built.
Curtiss-Wright hoped that in its militarized form the CW-19 could be sold on the export market as a ground-attack machine. But orders were disappointing, with two sold to theDominican Republic, ten toBolivia, six toEcuador, and three toCuba. Additionally, one example was delivered toChina where it was likely purchased. An unarmed trainer version was also developed and offered to theUSAAC but no orders were placed.
In a final attempt to find a market for the design, engine power was increased from 450 hp (340 kW) to 600 hp (450 kW), and a retractable undercarriage was fitted. In this form, designatedCW-23, the aircraft was offered once again to the USAAC, this time as an advanced trainer, but once again the service was not interested. The CW-19 did, however, form the basis of the far more successfulCW-21 andCW-22 designs.
Bolivia received 10 CW-19Rs in 1938, with four remaining in service in 1949.[3]
China received one CW-19R.[4]
Cuba received three CW-19Rs in 1937, one remaining in service until 1948.[3][5]
Dominican Republic purchased two CW-19Rs in 1937.[3]
Ecuador received six in 1936, remaining in service until 1943.[3]
One CW-19 was originally shipped from La Paz, Bolivia to Patrick AFB on April 12, 1995 by owners Debra Boostrom-Hoedebecke of Dixie Air Supply and Maggie Glendinning-Welch aboard a Bolivian Air Force C-130. It was then trucked to San Antonio, Texas for restoration and preparation for flight to Oshkosh, Wisconsin for the annual fly-in. In accordance with the verbal agreement between Debra Boostrom-Hoedebecke and Bolivian government, the Bolivian markings were retained on the aircraft.[6]
Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947[7]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
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Media related toCurtiss-Wright CW-19 at Wikimedia Commons