Curtiss C-1 Canada
Curtiss · United States · first flew 1915 · bomber
The Curtiss C-1 Canada was a twin-engined bomber of the First World War, designed by Curtiss in America to be built by its Canadian subsidiary.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Tail surfaces carried on twin booms from the engine nacelles plus a third, lower boom from the fuselage nacelle |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Unequal-span biplane with a 75 ft 10 in upper wing and a 48 ft lower wing
- Tail surfaces carried on twin booms from the engine nacelles plus a third, lower boom from the fuselage nacelle
- Two gunners side by side in the nose with the pilot in a separate cockpit behind the wings
The long fuselage nacelle sits on the lower wing, with an engine on each side and a tail unit with a single fin carried on booms behind them. It had a conventional undercarriage with twin tandem main wheels.
Specifications
- The Curtiss C-1 Canada has a length of 10.17 m (33 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 23.11 m (76 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 145 km/h (90 mph).
- Typical crew: 3.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed in 1915 and based on the Curtiss Model H flying boat, the prototype was first flown on 3 September 1915 with two 90 hp Curtiss OX-5 engines because the planned 160 hp V-X engines were not available. Construction was handled by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motors Ltd in Toronto.
Variants
Production aircraft were to use the 160 hp Curtiss V-X engines of the H-4 flying boat. An early Sperry stabiliser was fitted to improve stability for bombing.
Where you'll see it
Large orders were placed for the Royal Naval Air Service and Royal Flying Corps, but only twelve were built. The Royal Flying Corps abandoned the type and its ten production aircraft were never reassembled, and the Royal Naval Air Service cancelled its orders in favour of the Handley Page O/100.
Related aircraft
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