Curtiss R3C
The Curtiss R3C -2 was a U.S. seaplane, which was built to participate in the Schneider Trophy. Two examples were built for the U.S. Navy ( BuA. 6978 and 6979 ), another machine ( BuA. 7054 ) was commissioned by the U.S. Army Air Service. The type identifier "R" was used by the U.S. Navy from 1922 to 1928 for racing airplanes (see designation system for aircraft of the U.S. Navy from 1922 to 1962 ). The R3C was formally classified in the sequence of U.S. Navy fighter planes under the " Description of Securities " F3C.
It was a single-seat biplane with two floats manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company Incorporated. ( The R3C - 1 was the appropriate country version of the same model and won on October 12, 1925, the Pulitzer Trophy Air Race with 406.5 km / h )
The Schneider Trophy 1925 was held in Baltimore, USA on 26 October. The pilot James Doolittle of the USAAC won with 374.274 km / h the first place. The other two R3C -2 of the U.S. Navy, with the pilot George Cuddihy and Ralph Oftsie, the goal is not reached.
The next day, Doolittle flew with the machine on a straight course with 395.4 kmh a new world record.
To the next Schneider Trophy, which was held on 13 November 1926, the engine was further improved, and the R3C -2 reached with driver Christian Franck Schilt with 372.34 km / h in second place.