View source for Curtiss CS

{{for|the later monoplane also designated the SC|Curtiss SC Seahawk}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 |name=CS / SC
 |image=Curtiss CS with naval aviators 1924.jpg
 |caption=
 |type=Reconnaissance and torpedo bomber aircraft
 |manufacturer=[[Curtiss Aeroplane Company]], [[Glenn L. Martin Company|Martin]]
 |designer=
 |first_flight=[[1923 in aviation|1923]]
 |introduction=
 |retired=
 |status=
 |primary_user=[[United States Navy]]
 |more_users=
 |produced=
 |number_built=83
 |variants=
}}
The '''Curtiss CS''' (or '''Model 31''') was a reconnaissance and [[torpedo bomber]] aircraft used by the [[United States Navy]] during the 1920s. It was a large single-engine biplane with single-bay unstaggered wings, the design conventional in all respects other than that the lower wing was of greater span than the upper. The CS was built to allow its undercarriage to be quickly and easily interchangeable between wheeled, tailskid undercarriage, and twin pontoons for operation from water. Provision for the carriage of a torpedo was semi-recessed into the underside of the fuselage, blended in behind an aerodynamic fairing. The pilot and gunner sat in tandem open cockpits, while accommodation inside the fuselage was provided for a third crewmember who served as bombardier and radio operator. This station was also provided with a dorsal hatch aft of the gunner's position, and a ventral blister aft of the torpedo recess, which was used for aiming bombs or torpedoes.

==Development==
Curtiss produced six '''CS-1''' prototypes for the Navy in 1923, which were mostly used for engine tests. Two examples of the improved '''CS-2''' were built the following year and set a number of world speed, distance, and endurance records for seaplanes in its class. The Navy ordered both the CS-1 and CS-2 into production, but when Curtiss tendered with a price of $32,000 per aircraft, Martin undercut them with a tender of $25,200 for each CS-1 and $19,863 for each CS-2 and won the contract. Curtiss refused to provide full sets of drawings and data to Martin, so Martin-built machines were in part reverse-engineered from a Curtiss-built CS-1 provided by the Navy. By the time the Martin-produced aircraft were delivered in 1925–26, the Navy's designation system had changed, and they entered service as the '''SC-1''' and '''SC-2'''. Martin-built SC-2s suffered from poor handling characteristics and soon earned the nickname "Sea Cow". Meanwhile, the [[Naval Aircraft Factory]] made extensive modifications to the two Curtiss CS-2s leading them to be redesignated '''CS-3'''. Further development of the design was carried out by Martin as the [[Martin T3M|T3M]] and [[Martin T4M|T4M]], and eventually by [[Great Lakes Aircraft|Great Lakes]] as the [[Great Lakes TG|TG]].

==Operational history==
In 1924, the CS-2 was used to break numerous world records for seaplanes in its class in three long-range flights. The first of these took place overnight between 22 and 23 June, when Lt [[Frank Wead]] and Lt [[John D. Price]] set five records – distance (963.123&nbsp;mi, 1,544.753&nbsp;km), duration (13 hours, 23 minutes, 15 seconds), speed over 500&nbsp;km (73.41&nbsp;mph, 117.74&nbsp;km/h), speed over 1,000&nbsp;km (74.27&nbsp;mph, 119.12&nbsp;km/h) and speed over 1,500&nbsp;km (74.17&nbsp;mph/118.96&nbsp;km/h).<ref name=NHHC>{{cite web |url=http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART03.PDF |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20011127031259/http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART03.PDF |url-status=dead |archive-date=November 27, 2001 |title=United States Naval Aviation 1910–1995 Part 3: The Twenties 1920–1929 |publisher=[[Naval History & Heritage Command]] |access-date=May 20, 2013}} p. 13</ref> Between 11 and 12 July, the same pilots broke the distance and duration records again (994.19&nbsp;mi/1,594.58&nbsp;km over 14 hours, 53 minutes, 44 seconds).<ref name=NHHC/> On October 10, these same two records were exceeded by Lt Andrew Crinkley and Lt Rossmore Lyon in a flight of {{convert|1460|mi}} in 20 hours, 28 minutes. While these would have been new world records, the flight was not officially timed and was therefore not recognized as such.

On 23&nbsp;October 1925, the U.S. Navy brought 23 CS-1 floatplanes to [[Bay Shore Park (Maryland)|Bay Shore Park]] on the [[Chesapeake Bay]], {{convert|14|mi}} from [[Baltimore]], [[Maryland]], with the intention of flying them in an [[air show]] demonstration before the 1925 [[Schneider Cup]] Race on 24&nbsp;October. Due to bad weather, the race was postponed until 26&nbsp;October,<ref>"Air and Auto Races Called Off by Rain— Schneider Cup Dash And Laurel Contest Postponed", ''The Evening Sun'' (Baltimore), October 24, 1925, p.1</ref> and the CS-1s remained at the park to await the postponed race. While they waited, a storm with {{convert|80|mph|0|adj=on}} winds struck the area early on 25&nbsp;October. The [[gale]]-force winds broke {{convert|3|in|adj=on|0}} mooring and anchor ropes on 17 of the biplanes, which were blown onto shore or dashed against [[seawall]]s, destroying seven and damaging 10 of them.<ref>"ATLANTIC GALE WRECKS 17 COSTLY PLANES— Begin Inquiry Into New Blow at Navy Bureau", ''Akron (O.) Beacon Journal'', October 26, 1925, p.1</ref> The 26&nbsp;October afternoon edition of the ''[[Baltimore Evening Sun]]'' had the headline "Plane Disaster in Harbor Called Hard Blow to Navy" <ref>"Plane Disaster in Harbor Called Hard Blow to Navy", by Robert T. Small, ''The Evening Sun'' (Baltimore), October 26, 1925, p.1</ref> and quoted [[United States Army Air Service]] [[Brigadier general (United States)|Brigadier General]] [[Billy Mitchell (general)|William "Billy" Mitchell]], who called the loss of the CS-1s "staggering" and blamed it on U.S. Navy mismanagement of its aviation program.<ref>Gough, Michael, "''Doolittle Wins In Baltimore''", Airpower, November 2005, Volume 35, Number 11, page 50.</ref>

==Variants==
;Curtiss CS-1
:Initial prototypes/production, powered by 530&nbsp;hp (395&nbsp;kW) [[Wright T-2]] engine. Six built by Curtiss.<ref name="Bowers Curtiss p189">Bowers 1979, p.189.</ref>
;Curtiss CS-2
:Improved version with 600&nbsp;hp (448&nbsp;kW) [[Wright T-3]] engine and more fuel. One converted from CS-1 and two new-built aircraft by Curtiss.<ref name="Bowers Curtiss p191">Bowers 1979, p.191.</ref><ref name="Swan navy p123">Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p.123.</ref>
;Curtiss CS-3
:Modified CS-2, with geared engine. One converted. Formed basis of [[Martin T3M]].<ref name="Bowers Curtiss p191"/>
[[File:EL-2002-00572.jpg|thumb|right|Martin SC-1 at Langley]]
;Martin SC-1
:Martin built production version of CS-1. 35 built.<ref name="Bowers Curtiss p191"/>
;Martin SC-2
:Martin built production version of CS-2. 40 built.<ref name="Bowers Curtiss p191"/>
;Martin T2M
:Alternative designation for the Martin built SC series.
;Martin XSC-6
:Conversion of SC-1 with 730&nbsp;hp (545&nbsp;kW) [[Packard 1A-2500]] engine.<ref name="Bowers Curtiss p191"/> 
;Martin SC-6 
:SC-1 fitted with 1A-2500 engine.<ref name="Bowers Curtiss p191"/>
;XSC-7
:Conversion of CS-1 with T-3A engine and increased gross weight.<ref name="Bowers Curtiss p191"/>

==Operators==
;{{USA}}
*[[United States Navy]]
<!-- ==Units using this aircraft/Operators (choose)== -->

==Specifications (SC-2 landplane)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=United States Navy Aircraft since 1911 <ref name="Swan navy p123-4">Swanborough and Bowers 1976, pp. 123–124.</ref>
|prime units?=imp<!-- imp or kts first for US aircraft, and UK aircraft pre-metrification, met(ric) first for all others. You MUST choose a format, or no specifications will show -->
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=three
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=37
|length in=9
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=56
|span in=7
|span note=
|lower span m=
|lower span ft=
|lower span in=
|lower span note=
|height m=
|height ft=14
|height in=8
|height note=
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=856
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=5007
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=8422
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift note=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Wright T-3]]
|eng1 type=water-cooled [[V12 engine]]
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=585<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 shp=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 note=
|power original=
|thrust original=
|eng1 kn-ab=<!-- afterburners -->
|eng1 lbf-ab=<!-- afterburners -->

|prop blade number=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop name=
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop note=

<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=103
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at sea level
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=<!-- aerobatic -->
|stall speed mph=<!-- aerobatic -->
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=1018
|range nmi=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=8000
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=10 minutes to 2,000 ft (610 m)
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight=

|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= 1 × rearward-firing machine gun in ring mount
|bombs= 1 × 1,618 lb (734 kg) torpedo
|rockets= 
|missiles= 
|hardpoints=
|hardpoint capacity=
|hardpoint rockets=
|hardpoint missiles=
|hardpoint bombs=
|hardpoint other=

|avionics=
}}

<!-- ==See also== -->
{{aircontent
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. -->
|related=<!-- related developments -->
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft -->
|lists=<!-- related lists -->
|see also=<!-- other relevant information -->
}}

==References==
===Notes===
{{reflist}}

===Sources===
* {{cite book|last= Bowers|first= Peter M.|author-link= Peter M. Bowers |title=Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947  |year= 1979|publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0-370-10029-8 }} 
* {{cite book |last1=Swanborough |first1=Gordon |last2=Bowers|first2=Peter M.|author-link2= Peter M. Bowers|title=United States Navy Aircraft since 1911|edition=Second  |year= 1976|publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=0-370-10054-9 }} 
* {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |page=278 }}
* {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |page=File 901 Sheet 07 }}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100118113742/http://www.nasgi.org/t4m.htm NAS Grosse Ile]
* [http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART03.PDF history.navy.mil] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721212627/http://www.history.navy.mil/avh-1910/PART03.PDF |date=2013-07-21 }}

==External links==
{{commons category-inline|Curtiss CS}}

{{Curtiss aircraft}}
{{USN scout aircraft}}
{{USN torpedo aircraft}}

[[Category:Curtiss aircraft|CS]]
[[Category:1920s United States military reconnaissance aircraft]]
[[Category:1920s United States bomber aircraft]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Biplanes]]
[[Category:Floatplanes]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1923]]
[[Category:Martin aircraft|T2M]]
[[Category:Aircraft with fixed conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]