Curtiss Robin
Curtiss-Robertson · United States · first flew 1928 · light aircraft
The Curtiss Robin is an American high-wing cabin monoplane built by the Curtiss-Robertson Airplane Manufacturing Company from 1928.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.85 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- High wing braced by parallel diagonal struts
- Early aircraft have large flat fairings over the bracing struts
- Enclosed cabin seating a pilot and two passengers
A classic late-1920s high-wing cabin monoplane with a parallel pair of diagonal struts on each side. Early examples show the flat strut fairings.
Specifications
- The Curtiss Robin has a length of 7.85 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.5 m (41 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 160 km/h (99 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The first flight was on 7 August 1928. It had a wooden wing and a steel-tube fuselage, and 769 were built. The original landing gear used bungee cord shock absorbers, later replaced by an oleo-pneumatic system.
Variants
Engines ranged from the 90 hp Curtiss OX-5 to Curtiss Challenger radials of up to 185 hp. A long-range version carried an extra fuel tank, and some Robins were fitted with twin floats.
Where you'll see it
The Robin sold mainly on the US private owner market. A J-1 version was flown across the Atlantic by Douglas Corrigan, and a number are still flying.
Related aircraft
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