Curtiss Biplane Article Index for
Curtiss 		Shopping
Curtiss 		Website Links For
Curtiss 		 

Information About

Curtiss Biplane
  CATEGORIES ABOUT CURTISS MODEL D
   
u.s. civil utility aircraft 1910-1919
   
single engine aircraft
   
pusher aircraft
   
biplane aircraft
   
SHOPPER'S DELIGHT
 
Shop For:  
Department
Price Minimum:
Price Maximum:
      



The Curtiss Model D was an early US aircraft, and among the first aircraft in the world to be built in any quantity. It was based on Glenn Curtiss ' Golden Flyer design of 1909 , itself derived from his June Bug of 1908 .

The Model D was a Biplane fitted with a wheeled, Tricycle Undercarriage . Like other early aircraft, the Airframe was made of wood and bamboo with doped linen stretch over it. Prevented by patents from using the Wright Brothers ' Wing Warping technique to provide lateral control, Curtiss used Aileron s instead. In the end, this proved to be a superior solution. Almost all Model Ds were constructed with a Pusher Configuration , where the propeller is facing backwards, behind the pilot. Because of this configuration, they were often referred to as a "Curtiss pusher". Early examples were built in a Canard configuration, with Elevator s mounted on struts at the front of the aircraft in addition to a Horizontal Stabilizer at the rear. Later, the elevators were incorporated into the tail unit.

In addition to amateur aviators, Model Ds were purchased by the United States Army and Navy as airborne observation platforms. A number of them were exported to foreign militaries as well, including the Russian Navy . On January 8 1911 , Eugene Ely landed a Model D aboard the USS ''Pennsylvania'' . This was the first aircraft to land on a ship.


SPECIFICATIONS (MODEL D TYPE IV)


General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot

  • Capacity: 1 passenger

  • Length: 29 ft 3 in (8.92 m)

  • Wingspan: 38 ft 3 in (11.66 m)

  • Height: 7 ft 10 in (2.39 m)

  • Wing area: ft² ( m²)

  • Empty: 700 lb (318 kg)

  • Loaded: 1,300 lb (590 kg)

  • Maximum takeoff: lb ( kg)

  • Powerplant: 1× Curtiss-built V-8 , 60 hp (45 kW)



Performance

  • Maximum speed: 50 mph (80 km/h)

  • Range: endurance of 2.5 hours

  • Service ceiling: ft ( m)

  • Rate of climb: ft/min ( m/min)

  • Wing loading: lb/ft² ( kg/m²)

  • Power/mass: hp/lb ( kW/kg)



RELATED CONTENT

Related development:
AEA June Bug -
Curtiss Golden Flyer -
Curtiss Albany Flyer -
Curtiss Model E

Comparable aircraft:

Designation sequence:
B -
C -
D -
E -
F