R2C-1

The Curtiss R2C‑1 was a single‑engine, biplane racing and record‑setting aircraft built for the United States Navy in the early 1920s. Developed from the earlier Curtiss CS series, the R2C‑1 first flew in 1922 and was quickly entered into the prestigious Pulitzer Trophy races, where it demonstrated the Navy’s commitment to high‑speed flight research. Powered by a 400‑horsepower Curtiss V‑12 D‑12 liquid‑cooled engine, the aircraft featured a sleek, wooden monocoque fuselage, highly staggered equal‑span wings with narrow chord, and streamlined metal fairings that reduced drag. Its propeller was a four‑bladed, constant‑speed unit, allowing pilots to maintain optimum RPM during high‑velocity runs. The R2C‑1 set multiple speed records, reaching 247 mph over a 3‑kilometer course, a remarkable achievement for its time. Though only a few airframes were built, the design’s emphasis on aerodynamic cleanliness and power‑to‑weight ratio directly influenced later Navy fighters such as the F4U Corsair. The R2C‑1’s success helped cement Curtiss’s reputation as a leading aircraft manufacturer and demonstrated the strategic value of racing programs in advancing military aviation technology. The aircraft’s brief operational life also provided valuable data on engine cooling and structural stresses that informed the Navy’s subsequent carrier‑based designs throughout the interwar period.