VB-5 went aboard Yorktown during May-June 1943 to participate in the ship’s shakedown cruise. Navy Curtiss SB2C-1 Helldiver bombers Bombing Squadron Five (VB-5) pictured on the flight deck aboard the ciarctaft carrier USS Yorktown (CV-10). A total of 7,140 SB2Cs were produced in World War II. (Canada), which produced 300 (under the designations XSBF-l, SBF-l, SBF-3 and SBF-4E), and Canadian Car and Foundry, which built 894 (designated SBW-l, SBW-3, SBW-4, SBW-4E and SBW-5), these models being respectively equivalent to their Curtiss-built counterparts. Nevertheless, production tempo accelerated with production at Columbus, Ohio and two Canadian factories: Fairchild Aircraft Ltd. The program suffered so many delays that the Grumman TBF Avenger entered service before the Helldiver, even though the Avenger had begun its development two years later. The SB2C-2 was built with larger fuel tanks, improving its range considerably. Fin and rudder area were increased, fuel capacity was increased, self-sealing fuel tanks were added and the fixed armament was doubled to four 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the wings, compared with the prototype’s two cowling guns. Large-scale production had already been ordered on 29th November 1940, but a large number of modifications were specified for the production model. The revised prototype flew again on 20th October 1941, but was destroyed when its wing failed during diving tests on 21st December 1941. The fuselage was lengthened and a larger tail was fitted, while an autopilot was fitted to help the poor stability. It crashed on 8th February 1941 when its engine failed on approach, but Curtiss was asked to rebuild it. The first prototype made its maiden flight on 18th December 1940. He was referring to controllability issues with the small vertical tail. Koppen was quoted as saying, “if they build more than one of these, they are crazy”. Professor of Aeronautical Engineering Otto C. In 1939, a student brought a model of the new Curtiss XSB2C-1 to the MIT wind tunnel. The Model XSB2C-1 prototype initially suffered teething problems connected to its Wright R-2600 Twin Cyclone engine and three-bladed propeller further concerns included structural weaknesses, poor handling, directional instability and bad stall characteristics. Curtiss XSB2C Helldiver prototype on its maiden flight
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |