Curtiss Robin

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American monoplane introduced in 1928

title: "Curtiss Robin" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["curtiss-aircraft", "1920s-united-states-civil-utility-aircraft", "single-engined-tractor-aircraft", "high-wing-aircraft", "aircraft-first-flown-in-1928", "aircraft-with-fixed-conventional-landing-gear"] description: "American monoplane introduced in 1928" topic_path: "geography/united-states" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_Robin" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American monoplane introduced in 1928 ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox aircraft"]

FieldValue
nameCurtiss Robin
imageCurtiss Robin 1.JPG
captionA Curtiss Robin in The Museum of Flight, Tukwila Washington, 2011
typeTouring
manufacturerCurtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company
first_flight7 August 1928
introduction1928
statusA number still flying
primary_userU. S. Private Owner Market
number_built769
::

|name = Curtiss Robin |image =Curtiss Robin 1.JPG |caption =A Curtiss Robin in The Museum of Flight, Tukwila Washington, 2011 |type = Touring |manufacturer = Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company |designer = |first_flight = 7 August 1928 |introduction = 1928 |retired = |status = A number still flying |primary_user = U. S. Private Owner Market |more_users = |produced = |number_built = 769 |variants =

The Curtiss Robin, introduced in 1928, is an American high-wing monoplane built by the Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company. The J-1 version was flown by Wrong Way Corrigan who crossed the Atlantic after being refused permission to do so.

Design

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 -.

Operational history

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9b/Curtiss_Robin_St_Louis_1929.jpg" caption="endurance flight]] 13-30 July 1929, at St. Louis, Missouri, flown by Dale Jackson and Forest O'Brine for 17 days, 12 hours, 17 minutes"] ::

A single modified Robin (with a 110 hp 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 mi daily, dropping bundles of newspapers from a height of 500 ft 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 (1932–1935).

Variants (Model 50)

*Data from:*Curtiss aircraft : 1907-1947 ;Challenger Robin: (Model 50A) An early version of the Robin, powered by a 165 hp Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine. ;Comet Robin: One Robin was converted by its owner in 1937, fitted with a 150 hp Comet 7-D radial piston engine. ;Robin: (Model 50A) Prototypes and initial production aircraft powered by 90 hp Curtiss OX-5 engines. ;Robin B: A three-seat cabin monoplane, fitted with wheel brakes and a steerable tailwheel, powered by a 90 hp Curtiss OX-5 V-8 engine; about 325 were built. ;Robin B-2: A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 150 - Wright-Hisso "A","E" and "I" V-8 water-cooled piston engine. ;Robin C: A three-seat cabin monoplane, powered by a 170 hp or 185 hp Curtiss Challenger radial piston engine; about 50 built. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/55/CurtissRobinC1.jpg" caption="1929 Curtis Robin C-1 used for the movie ''Pearl'' (modified with an R-680)"] ::

;Robin C-1: (Model 50C) An improved version of the Robin C, powered by a 185 hp 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 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 Wright J-6-7 Whirlwind engine. ;Robin CR: A one-off experimental version, fitted with a 120 hp Curtiss Crusader engine. ;Robin J-1: (Model 50H) Powered by a 165 hp Wright J-6-5 Whirlwind radial piston engine; about 40 built. ;Robin J-2: (Model 50I) A long-range version, with 80 USgal 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 Milwaukee Tank V-502 V-8 engine (air-cooled OX-5 conversions). ;Robin W: (Model 50J) Powered by a 110 hp Warner Scarab radial piston engine. Only a small number were built in 1930. ::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/09/Curtiss_XC-10_Robin.jpg" caption="The XC-10 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 Warner R-420-1.

Operators

Military operators

;Paraguay

Surviving aircraft

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/01/Curtiss-Robin-Display.jpg" caption="Curtis Robin B-2 display"] ::

Australia

Brazil

Canada

Costa Rica

Germany

United States

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bb/Air_Zoo_December_2019_045_(Curtiss_Robin).jpg" caption="Curtiss Robin at the [[Air Zoo"] ::

Specifications (Robin OX-5)

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Curtiss_Robin_3-view_Aero_Digest_October_1928.jpg" caption="Curtiss Robin 3-view drawing from Aero Digest October 1928"] ::

|ref=Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947, Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928 |prime units?=imp General characteristics

|crew=1 |capacity=2 pax / 425 lb payload |length m=7.85 |span m=12.5 |height m=2.4 |wing area sqft=262.5 |aspect ratio= |airfoil=Curtiss C-72 |empty weight lb=1475 |gross weight lb= |gross weight note= |max takeoff weight lb=2175 |fuel capacity=50 USgal fuel; 5 USgal oil |more general= Powerplant

|eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Curtiss OX-5 |eng1 type=V-8 water-cooled piston engine |eng1 hp=90

|prop blade number=2 |prop name=fixed pitch propeller |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop dia note= Performance

|max speed mph=99.7 |cruise speed mph=85 |cruise speed note=

  • Landing speed: 45 mph |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |range miles=785 |range note=cruising; 580 mi at full throttle |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=12500 |g limits= |roll rate= |climb rate ftmin=450 |time to altitude= 3800 ft in 10 minutes |wing loading lb/sqft=8.2 |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass=0.0465 hp/lb |thrust/weight=

|more performance=

References

Bibliography

References

  1. (2002). "The complete encyclopedia of world aircraft". Barnes & Noble Books.
  2. "Curtiss-Robertson Robin C-1". Museum of flight.
  3. Discoe, Connie Jo. [http://www.mccookgazette.com/story/1488920.html "'News Boy' pilot was aviation pioneer".] [http://www.mccookgazette.com/ ''McCook Daily Gazette''.] 2008-12-27. Retrieved 2013-06-24.
  4. "Aircraft Register Search [VH-JUV]".
  5. "Airframe Dossier - CurtissB Robin, s/n R-204 FAA, c/n 248, c/r LV-FAV". AerialVisuals.ca.
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  7. (28 February 2013). "Curtiss Robin J-1".
  8. "FAA REGISTRY [N292E]". U.S. Department of Transportation.
  9. (17 September 2013). "1929 Curtiss Robin".
  10. "Airframe Dossier - Curtiss B Robin, c/n 193, c/r N8313". AerialVisuals.ca.
  11. "FAA REGISTRY [N8313]". U.S. Department of Transportation.
  12. "Curtiss Robertson Robin B". WAAAM.
  13. "FAA REGISTRY [N8332]". U.S. Department of Transportation.
  14. "Curtiss B-1 Robin".
  15. "General Aviation". Evergreen Museum.
  16. "Airframe Dossier - Curtiss C-1 Robin, c/r NC9283". AerialVisuals.ca.
  17. "FAA REGISTRY [N9283]". U.S. Department of Transportation.
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  20. "Curtiss C-1 Robin".
  21. "FAA REGISTRY [N3865B]". U.S. Department of Transportation.
  22. "Curtiss-Robertson Robin C-1".
  23. "1930 CURTISS ROBIN 4C-1A".
  24. "FAA REGISTRY [N563N]". U.S. Department of Transportation.
  25. (15 November 2016). "Antique planes and other items coming home to Shannon Airport". BH Media Group, Inc..
  26. "FAA REGISTRY [N532N]". U.S. Department of Transportation.
  27. "Virginia Aviation Museum Historic Aircraft".
  28. "FAA REGISTRY [N534N]". U.S. Department of Transportation.
  29. "Curtiss Robin J-1 Deluxe "Ole Miss"". Smithsonian Institution.
  30. (2001). "The Historic Aircraft and Spacecraft in the Cradle of Aviation Museum". Dover Publications.
  31. "East Campus Aircraft".
  32. "FAA REGISTRY [N7912]". U.S. Department of Transportation.
  33. (4 October 2012). "Air Zoo acquires 1928 Curtiss Robin high-wing monoplane". Advance Local Media LLC.
  34. "1928 Curtiss Robin".
  35. "Aircraft".
  36. "Museum Hangar 2".
  37. "Candler Field Museum".
  38. "1929 Curtiss "Robin"".
  39. (1979). "Curtiss aircraft : 1907-1947". Putnam.
  40. (1928). "Jane's all the World's Aircraft 1928". Sampson Low, Marston & company, ltd.
  41. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage".

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curtiss-aircraft1920s-united-states-civil-utility-aircraftsingle-engined-tractor-aircrafthigh-wing-aircraftaircraft-first-flown-in-1928aircraft-with-fixed-conventional-landing-gear