Curtiss CW-20 Commercial Aircraft Project

[hesham]

Hi,

may be I lost my memory !,what was this Curtiss twin engined
commercial aircraft project ?,is it familiar ?.
http://www.flightglobal.com/PDFArchive/View/1938/1938 - 2093.html?search=grumman vtol project

 

[frank]

Wasn't the prototype design of the C-46 twin-tailed? Maybe its forerunner.

 

[joncarrfarrelly]

That is the Curtiss CW-20 which did indeed become better known as the C-46.
Nothing 'unknown' about it.

Jon

 

[Justo Miranda]

Unknown source

 

[Boxman]

Looks like there's a photo of the C-46 forerunner, the Curtiss CW-20 mock-up, twin-tail and all (well, at least one half of it), at the San Diego Air & Space Museum (SDASM) Flickr photostream. As per aerofiles (link) it appears this photo was taken at the 1939 World's Fair in Queens, New York.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/sdasmarchives/8091706786/in/photostream

 

[hesham]

Hi,


anther early drawing to Curtiss-Wright CW-20.


http://www.luftfahrt-bibliothek.de/zeitschrift-flugsport-oskar-ursinus-luftsport-luftfahrt-luftverkehr/luftsport-luftfahrt-luftverkehr-flugsport-1938/zeitschrift-flugsport-1938-luftsport-luftverkehr-luftfahrt.htm

 

[ACResearcher]

Hesham, is this final drawing from Curtiss files or is it a European "guess" at what the aircraft would look like?

Thanks in advance.

AlanG

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

The drawing is created by the magazine in question. No details as to whether its based on an original drawing.

 

[Steve Pace]

These may be of interest. -SP

 

[hesham]

My dear Alan,


the CW-20 was displayed to the public first time at 1939,so the two drawings
from Flightglobal (1938) and Flugsport (1938) are just a good speculation or
very close d drawing to the aircraft actually built.

 

[ACResearcher]

Paul, Steve and Hesham,

Thanks for the quick comeback. I could not imagine that monstrosity was an official document - not even for Curtiss!

Steve, very nice images. I see one of them is from my friend Dave Ostrowski. The man has a magnificent collection even now and is generous to a fault.

While not a huge student of transports in any era, I still love seeing these photos, drawings and reading new information.

Many thanks!

AlanG

 

[hesham]

Hi,

http://www.avia-it.com/act/biblioteca/periodici/PDF%20Riviste/Ala%20d'Italia/L'ALA%20D'ITALIA%201939%2008.pdf

 

[hesham]

Hi,

http://www.avia-it.com/act/biblioteca/periodici/PDF%20Riviste/Ala%20d'Italia/L'ALA%20D'ITALIA%201940%20011.pdf

 

[lleu]

I'm not see "figure-eight" (or "double-bubble") at CW-20T. It is very strange. Or not?

 

[Arjen]

The visible crease in the C-46's fuselage was faired over in the CW-20 prototype. In use, any performance gains because of a more streamlined shape were negligible. The fairings didn't make it to the C-46. Slightly cheaper to build that way.
<edit> 'Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947' by Peter M Bowers, Putnam 1979, states all C-46 production aircraft retained a fairing over the fuselage crease 'for a small portion over the very rear '.

 

[The Artist]

Some CW-20 photographs found in the Art Davies Collection in the Museum.

 

[hesham]

From Aero Digest 1939.