R2C-2

The Curtiss R2C-2 was a single‑engine, sesquiplane trainer and racer built in the early 1920s for the United States Navy. Developed from the earlier R2C‑1 model, the R2C-2 incorporated a more powerful Curtiss V‑12 engine producing 550 horsepower, a redesigned wing structure with equal‑span upper and lower wings, and a streamlined fuselage optimized for speed. First flown in 1922, the aircraft quickly proved its versatility: it served as an advanced carrier‑deck trainer, teaching pilots to handle high‑performance machines, while also being entered in several National Air Races, where it routinely exceeded 150 mph and set a 500‑kilometer record in 1923.

Its wooden construction, fabric covering, and detachable wing panels reflected the transitional nature of post‑World I aviation, bridging the gap between biplane trainers and the emerging monoplane fighters. The R2C‑2’s success in both military training and competitive racing helped demonstrate the benefits of higher‑power engines and aerodynamic refinement, influencing the Navy’s subsequent adoption of faster scout and fighter types. Though only a handful were built, the R2C‑2 remains a significant notable example of Curtiss’s innovation during a transformative era in American aviation.