Curtiss T-32 Condor II

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T-32 Condor II
Curtiss YC-30 Condor front.jpg
A USAAC YC-30 in 1933
General information
TypeBiplane transport and bomber
Manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
Number built45
History
First flight30 January 1933
Developed from B-2 Condor

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.

Contents

Development

The Condor II was a 1933 two-bay biplane of mixed construction with a single vertical stabilizer 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 was 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, respectively, on regular night services for the next three years. The June 15, 1934, American Airlines system timetable marketed its Condors as being "The World's First Complete Sleeper-Planes" with these 12-passenger aircraft being equipped with sleeper berths and also being capable of cruising at 190 miles per hour. [1] An example of the Condor services operated by American were daily overnight flights between Dallas and Los Angeles during the mid-1930s with a routing of Dallas–Ft. Worth–Abilene–Big Spring, TX–El Paso–Douglas, AZ–Tucson–Phoenix–Los Angeles. [2]

The Colombian Air Force operated three BT-32s equipped with floats in the Colombia-Peru War in 1933.

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 1939–1941 United States Antarctic Service 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 pressed into service with the Royal Air Force at the outbreak of World War II.

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

A USAAC YC-30 in 1933. Curtiss YC-30 Condor left side.jpg
A USAAC YC-30 in 1933.
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 710 hp (529 kW) Wright SGR-1820-F3 Cyclone engines, three built.
AT-32B
An AT-32 variant with 720 hp (537 kW) Wright SGR-1820-F2 Cyclone engines, three built.
AT-32C
An AT-32 variant, one built for Swissair.
AT-32D
An AT-32 variant with 720 hp (537 kW) Wright SGR-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.
Curtiss R4C-1 EL-2002-00547.jpg
Curtiss R4C-1
R4C-1
United States Navy designation for two AT-32Es (one for United States Marine Corps) both later to the United States Antarctic Service.

Operators

Civil operators

Flag of Chile.svg  Chile
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  China
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Flag of El Salvador.svg  El Salvador

TACA International Airlines

Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States

Military operators

Flag of Argentina.svg  Argentina
Flag of the Republic of China.svg  China
Flag of Colombia.svg  Colombia
Flag of Honduras (2022-).svg  Honduras
Flag of Peru.svg  Peru
Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg United States

Accidents and incidents

Specifications (T-32 Condor II ATC-501)

Data fromJuptner, Joseph P. (1974). US Civil Aircraft: Vol. 6 (ATC 501 - 600). Aero Publishers, Inc. pp. 9–12. ISBN   0816891702.

General characteristics

Performance

See also

Related lists

References

  1. "June 1, 1934 American Airlines system timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  2. "June 1, 1934 American Airlines system timetable". www.timetableimages.com. Retrieved 2025-08-04.
  3. 1 2 3 "The Curtiss Condor". Aeroplane. No. July 2010. IPC Media. 2010. pp. 88–89.
  4. 1 2 3 Rathbun, John B., ed. (May 1934). "Byrd's Antarctic Condor". Popular Aviation. Vol. XIV, no. 5. Chicago, IL: Aeronautical Publications Inc. p. 303.

Sources