https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_Model_H
The Curtiss Model H was a family of classes of early long-range flying boats,
the first two of which were developed directly on commission in the United
newspaper, the Daily Mail, for the first non-stop aerial crossing of the
Atlantic. As the first aircraft having transatlantic range and cargo-carrying
capacity, it became the grandfather development leading to early international
commercial air travel, and by extension, to the modern world of commercial
aviation. The last widely produced class, the Model H-12, was retrospectively
designated Model 6 by Curtiss' company in the 1930s, and various classes have
variants with suffixed letters indicating differences.
Having transatlantic range and cargo carrying capacity by design, the first H-2
class (soon dubbed "The Americans" by the Royal Navy) was quickly drafted into
wartime use as a patrol and rescue aircraft by the RNAS, the air arm of the
British Royal Navy. The original two "contest" aircraft were in fact temporarily
seized by the Royal Navy, which later paid for them and placed an initial
adding gun mounts) and designated the "H-4" (the two originals were thereafter
the "H-2" Models to air historians). These changes were produced under contract
from Curtiss' factory in the last order of 50 "H-4s", giving a class total of
64, before the evolution of a succession of larger, more adaptable, and more
robust H-class models. This article covers the whole line of nearly 500 Curtiss
Model H seaplane flying boat aircraft known to have been produced, since
successive models - by whatever sub-model designation - were physically similar,
handled similarly, essentially just being increased in size and fitted with
technology in the 1910s being as rapid and explosive as any technological
advance has ever been.
Role
Experimental flying boat
Manufacturer
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
First flight
23 June 1914 (America)
Primary users
United States Navy
Royal Naval Air Service
Number built
478
Unit cost
$33,159
Developed from
Curtiss Model F
Variants
Felixstowe F.1
Felixstowe F.2
With the RNAS, H-12s and H-16s operated from flying boat stations on the coast
in long-range anti-submarine and anti-Zeppelin patrols over the North Sea. A
total of 71 H-12s and 75 H-16s were received by the RNAS, commencing patrols in
April 1917, with 18 H-12s and 30 H-16s remaining in service in October 1918.
U.S. Navy H-12s were kept at home and did not see foreign service, but ran
anti-submarine patrols from their own naval stations. Twenty aircraft were
delivered to the U.S. Navy. Some of the H-16s, however, arrived at bases in the
UK in time to see limited service just before the cessation of hostilities.
Variants
Model H-1 or Model 6: original America intended for transatlantic crossing (two
prototypes built)
Model H-2 (one built)
Model H-4: similar to H-1 for RNAS (62 built)
Model H-7: Super America
Model H-8: enlarged version of H-4 (one built)
Model H-12 or Model 6A: production version of H-8 with Curtiss V-X-X engines
(104 built) Model H-12A or Model 6B: RNAS version re-engined with Rolls-Royce
Eagle I
Model H-12B or Model 6D: RNAS version re-engined with Rolls-Royce Eagle VIII
Model H-12L: USN version re-engined with Liberty engine
Model H-16 or Model 6C: enlarged version of H-12 (334 built by Curtiss and Naval
Aircraft Factory) Model H-16-1: Model 16 fitted with pusher engines (one built)
Model H-16-2: Model 16 fitted with pusher engines and revised wing cellule (one
built)
Specifications (Model H-12A)
General characteristics
Crew: four
Length: 46.5 ft in (14.18 m)
Wingspan: 92.71 ft in (28.26 m)
Height: 16.5 ft in (5.03 m)
Wing area: 1,216 ft2 (113.0 m2)
Empty weight: 7,293 lb (3,609 kg)
Gross weight: 10,650 lb (5,550 kg)
Performance
Maximum speed: 85 mph (137 km/h)
Endurance: 6 hours
Service ceiling: 10,800 ft (3,292 m)
Rate of climb: 336 ft/min (1.7 m/s)
Armament
*
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