Curtiss T-32 Condor II

T-32 Condor II
275px
YC-30
Type	Biplane transport and bomber
Manufacturer	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
Maiden flight	1933

The Curtiss T-32 Condor II was a 1930s American biplane airliner and bomber aircraft built by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. It was used by the United States Army Air Corps as an executive transport.

Development

The Condor II was a 1933 two-bay biplane of mixed construction with a single fin and rudder and retractable landing gear. It was powered by two Wright Cyclone radial engines. The first aircraft was flown on 30 January 1933 and a production batch of 21 aircraft were then built. The production aircraft were fitted out as 12-passenger luxury night sleeper transports. They entered service with Eastern Air Transport and American Airways, forerunners of Eastern Air Lines and American Airlines on regular night services for the next 3 years.

Two modified T-32s were bought by the United States Army Air Corps (designated YC-30) for use as executive transports. One Condor was converted with extra fuel tanks and used by the 1938 Byrd Antarctic Expedition, and unique for a Condor had a fixed undercarriage to allow use on floats or skis. Some aircraft were later modified to AT-32 standard with variable-pitch propellers and improved engine nacelles. The AT-32D variant could be converted from sleeper configuration to daytime use with 15 seats. Four T-32s operating in the United Kingdom were impressed into service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of the Second World War.

Eight bomber variants (BT-32) were built with manually-operated machine gun turrets in the nose and above the rear fuselage. All these aircraft were exported. A military cargo version (CT-32) was also built for Argentina. It had a large loading door on the starboard side of the fuselage.

Variants

T-32

Production luxury night sleeper, 21 built including two as YC-30s

T-32C

Ten T-32s modified to AT-32 standard.

AT-32A

Variant with variable-pitch propellers and 710hp (529kW) Wright SCR-1820-F3 Cyclone engines, three built.

AT-32B

An AT-32 variant with 720hp (537kW) Wright SCR-1820-F2 Cyclone engines, three built.

AT-32C

An AT-32 variant, one built.

AT-32D

An AT-32 variant with 720hp (537kW) Wright SCR-1820-F3 Cyclone engines, one built.

AT-32E

AT-32 variant for the United States Navy as the R4C-1, two built.

BT-32

Bomber variant, eight built.

CT-32

Military cargo variant with large cargo door, three built.

YC-30

United States Army Air Corps designation for two T-32s.

R4C-1

United States Navy designation for two AT-32Es (one for United States Marine Corps) both later to the United States Antarctic Survey.

Operators

Civil operators

Template:UK

• Eastern Air Transport (T-32)
• International Air Freighters (T-32)

Template:USA

• American Airways
• Eastern Air Transport

Template:SWI

• Swissair

Military operators

Template:ARG (CT-32)

China (BT-32)

Template:COL (BT-32)

Template:PER (BT-32)

Template:UK

• Royal Air Force (T-32)

Template:USA

• United States Army Air Corps (YC-30)
• United States Marine Corps (R4C-1)
• United States Navy (R4C-1)

References

Bibliography

• Andrade, John M. U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-22-9. (Page 63 and 214)
• Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947. London: Putnam & CompanyLtd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
• Taylor, H.A. "The Uncompetitive Condor" AirEnthusiast Six, March-June 1978. Bromley, Kent, UK: Pilot Press Ltd., 1978.
• The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing, 1985.

See also

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
• List of military aircraft of the United States (naval)

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Curtiss T-32 Condor II".