Curtiss-Robertson Robin J-1, Single-engine Three-seat High-wing Cabin Monoplane, U.S.A.

Curtiss-Robertson Robin J-1
Single-engine Three-seat High-wing Cabin Monoplane, U.S.A.

Archive Photos ¹

1929 Curtiss-Robertson "Robin" J-1D (N532N) at the Virginia Aviation Museum, Sandston, VA (35 mm photo by John Shupek)

1929 Curtiss-Robertson "Robin" J-1 (N778M, MSN 689) c.1989 at the Santa Monica Museum of Flying, Santa Monica, CA (Photos by John Shupek)

Overview ²

Curtiss Robin
Role: Touring
Manufacturer: Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company
First flight: 7 August 1928
Introduction: 1928
Status: A number still flying
Primary user: U. S. Private Owner Market
Number built: 769
Unit cost: $7,500 U.S. Dollars (1938)

The Curtiss Robin, introduced in 1928, was a high-wing monoplane built by the Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company. The J-1 version was flown by Wrongway Corrigan who crossed the Atlantic after being refused permission.

Design ²

The Robin, a workmanlike cabin monoplane, had a wooden wing and steel tubing fuselage. The cabin accommodated three persons; two passengers were seated side-by-side behind the pilot. Early Robins were distinguished by large flat fairings over the parallel diagonal wing bracing struts; the fairings were abandoned on later versions, having been found to be ineffective in creating lift. The original landing gear had bungee rubber cord shock absorbers, later replaced by an oleo-pneumatic system; a number of Robins had twin floats added.

Variants of the Robin were fitted with engines which developed 90-185 hp (67-138 kW).

Operational History ²

A single modified Robin (with a 110 hp (82 kW) Warner R-420-1) was used by the United States Army Air Corps, and designated the XC-10. This aircraft was used in a test program for radio-controlled (and unmanned) flight.

Cuba’s national airline, Compañía Nacional Cubana de Aviación Curtiss, was founded in 1929 with the Curtiss-Wright company serving as its co-founder and major investor. The airline’s first aircraft was a Curtiss Robin and it was flown on domestic routes as a mail and passenger transport.

From September 1929 to May 1930 a Robin C-1 was used to deliver the McCook, Nebraska Daily Gazette to communities in rural Nebraska and Kansas. The airplane flew a nonstop route of 380 miles (610 km) daily, dropping bundles of newspapers from a height of 500 feet (150 m) to local carriers.

A Curtiss Robin C was purchased by the Paraguayan government in 1932 for the transport squadron of its air arm. It was intensively used as a VIP transport plane and air ambulance during the Chaco War (1923-1935).

Model 50 Variants ²

Challenger Robin (Model 50A); An early version of the Robin, powered by a 165 hp (123 kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine.
Comet Robin: One Robin was converted by its owner in 1937, fitted with a 150 hp (110 kW) Comet 7-D radial piston engine.
Robin (Model 50A): Prototypes and initial production aircraft powered by 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5 engines.
Robin B: A three-seat cabin monoplane, fitted with wheel brakes and a steerable tailwheel, powered by a 90 hp (67 kW) Curtiss OX-5 V-8 engine; about 325 were built.
Robin B-2: A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 150-180 hp (110-130 kW) Wright-Hisso "A","E" and "I" V-8 water-cooled piston engine.
Robin C: A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 170 hp (130 kW) or 185 hp (138 kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; about 50 built.
Robin C-1 (Model 50C): An improved version of the Robin C, powered by a 185 hp (138 kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; over 200 built.
Robin C-2 (Model 50D): A long-range version fitted with an extra fuel tank, powered by a 170 hp (130 kW) Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; six built.
Robin 4C (Model 50E): A four-seat version, powered by a Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; one built.
Robin 4C-1: A three-seat version with an enlarged forward fuselage section; three built.
Robin 4C-1A (Model 50G): Another four-seat version with an enlarged forward fuselage section; 11 built.
Robin 4C-2: A single un-certified version powered by a 225 hp (168 kW) Wright J-6-7 Whirlwind engine.
Robin CR: A one-off experimental version, fitted with a 120 hp (89 kW) Curtiss Crusader engine.
Robin J-1 (Model 50H): Powered by a 165 hp (123 kW) Wright J-6-5 Whirlwind radial piston engine; about 40 built.
Robin J-2 (Model 50I): A long-range version, with 80 US gal (67 imp gal; 300 l) fuel. Two were built
Robin J-3: A J-1 temporarily designated J-3, which reverted to the J-1 designation after being de-modified.
Robin M: A Robin B aircraft, fitted with the 115 hp (86 kW) Milwaukee Tank V-502 V-8 engine (air-cooled OX-5 conversions).
Robin W (Model 50J): Powered by a 110 hp (82 kW) Warner Scarab radial piston engine. Only a small number were built in 1930.
XC-10: One Robin W was sold to the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) and converted into an unmanned pilot-less radio-controlled test aircraft, powered by a 110 hp (82 kW) Warner R-420-1.

military Operators ²

Paraguay
United States: United States Army Air Corps

Curtiss Robin J-1 Specifications ³

General Characteristics

Crew: 1
Capacity: 2 passengers
Empty weight: 1,641 lb (744 kg)
Fuel capacity: 50 US gal (42 imp gal; 190 l) fuel; 5 US gal (4.2 imp gal; 19 l) oil
Height: 8 ft 0 in (2.43 m)
Length: 25 ft 1 in (7.64 m)
Gross weight: 2,361 lb (1,071 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright J-6-5, 165 hp
Propellers: 2-bladed fixed pitch propeller
Wing area: 223 ft² (20.71 m²
Wingspan: 41 ft 0 in 912.49 m)

Performance

Maximum speed: 118 mph (189.89 km/h)
Cruise speed: 100 mph (169.93 km/h)
Range: 338 miles (544 km)
Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (3,962 m)
Initial climb: 750 ft/min (3.81 m/s)

References

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Curtiss Robin
Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss Aircraft 1907 ’ 1947, Naval Institute Press, Annapolis, Maryland, ISBN 0-87021-152-8