Thomas-Morse TM-24

Thomas-Morse Aircraft · United States · first flew 1925 · reconnaissance aircraft

The Thomas-Morse TM-24 was a prototype American two-seat observation aircraft of the 1920s. A single example was built in 1925, but no production followed.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	All-metal biplane with a short fuselage covered in corrugated aluminium
T — Tail	Conventional

WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.

Spot it by:

All-metal biplane with a short fuselage covered in corrugated aluminium
Upper wing much smaller than the lower, with a span 5 ft shorter
Radiators in fairings in the lower wing roots

A Curtiss D-12 water-cooled V-12 drives a two-bladed propeller, with the two crew in separate tandem cockpits and auxiliary tail surfaces mounted on the fin.

Specifications

The Thomas-Morse TM-24 has a length of 6.22 m (20 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.17 m (30 ft).
Its maximum speed is 230 km/h (143 mph).
Typical crew: 2.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Chief designer B. Douglas Thomas produced it in 1924 as a further attempt to find success with all-metal construction. It flew in early 1925 and was delivered to McCook Field for testing in February that year.

Variants

Only one example was ever built.

Where you'll see it

Testing indicated good performance, but the landing speed was considered too high, the rudder was masked if the observer stood to use his machine gun, and the aircraft was thought frail. Development was abandoned and the prototype was dismantled at McCook Field.

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