Curtiss NC (Nancy Boat)

Long-Range Flying Boat Biplane Aircraft [ 1918 ]

Only ten Curtiss NC aircraft were purchased during its production run and utilized primarily by the United States Navy over the Atlantic.

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World War 1 in Europe prompted all military industries to develop and produce various solutions to ongoing (and some new) problems. The United States eventually formally sided with the Allied powers and began shipping goods and men to Europe in 1917 though these vessels were under constant threat from the dreaded German U-boat submarines plaguing Atlantic waters. In response, the US Navy called for a long-range flying boat that could cross the vast distances of the Atlantic and provide cover for supply ships while also patrol against the German marauders.

The charge eventually fell to the capable Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company concern who had already garnered much experience in the design of boat-like flying boats in years prior (the Curtiss H-16 being one prime example). Production of a new type of flying boat began in 1918 to which a first flight occurred on October 4th, 1918. The Curtiss concern worked to exacting specifications as put forth by the United States Navy Board of Construction and Repair and the result was a large biplane airframe powered by multiple engines. The series took on the designation of Curtiss NC ("NC" for "Navy Curtiss") and initially appeared in a three-engined form as the "NC-1". The US Navy had on order a total of four NC aircraft (NC-1, NC-2, NC-3 and NC-4). The NC was completed with full sleeping quarters and radio facilities for the intended long range flights. In November of that year, the NC-1 set a world record by transporting no fewer than 51 passengers.©MilitaryFactory.com

Design-wise, the Curtiss NC was very standard for the time, showcasing a very workmanlike appearance. The aircraft featured a boat-like hull for sea operations to which the NC could take-off and land on water as needed. The smooth fuselage was slung under the large biplane wing arrangement that sported parallel struts and lines of cabling for the various control surfaces and reinforced structural points. Small pontoon-like structures were affixed to the lower wing ends to counter tipping when on water. The initial NC-1 mark held three engines fitted side-by-side-by-side at the center of the wing assemblies, this between the upper and lower wing planes. All three engines operated in a "puller" (or "tractor") arrangement. In the NC-2 and later, the three engines benefitted from a fourth engine mounted in a "pusher" arrangement (4 x Liberty L-12 water-cooled V-12 engines of 400 horsepower each). The empennage consisted of a twin-boom design structure with a biplane tailplane section encompassing three vertical tail fins. All six crew positions were open-air including a circular cockpit position at the extreme front end (bow) of the fuselage. The pilot's cockpit was set just aft of this position and ahead of the wing assemblies. A third open-air cockpit was set aft of the wings. Top speed was 90 miles per hour which put it on par with the earlier fighter mounts of the war. Range was out to 1,400 miles while the aircraft could manage a service ceiling of 4,500 feet. While generally unarmed, the NC series could fit aerial machine guns in the front and rear cockpit positions for self-defense. Conceivably, a wartime NC aircraft would have also been outfitted with bombs for attacking submarines and surface warships.

In November of 1918, the Armistice was signed, bringing an end to the fighting in Europe. As such, there was no great need for large-scale military aircraft procurement as in the months before. The US Navy still sought its large flying boat aircraft and development of the NC proceeded as planned (only the NC-1 was delivered to the US Navy before the end of the war). Ultimately, the NC-1 was joined by the NC-2, NC-3 and NC-4 marks. NC-2 was damaged during trials and never flew again while the NC-4 achieved first flight on April 30th, 1919. The remainder aircraft were then used in the first transatlantic flight in May of 1919 which ended with only the NC-4 reaching the intended airstrip at Lisbon, Portugal (by way of Newfoundland and the Azores). NC-1 crashed with her crew being rescued while NC-3 was forced down and "floated" her way to the Azores. Beyond this endeavor, the NC series led a utilitarian life in service to the US Navy. The Navy eventually contracted for six more NC aircraft (NC-5, NC-6, NC-7, NC-8, NC-9 and NC-10) and procurement of these marks continued into the 1920s.

Like the wartime JN-4 "Jenny" biplane trainer, the Curtiss NC series was better known as the "Nancy" or "Nancy Boat" for its "NC" in the designation.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company - USA
Manufacturer(s)

United States
Operators

1918
Service Year

United States
National Origin

6
Crew

10
Units

SPECIAL-MISSION: ANTI-SUBMARINE WARFARE
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy underwater elements by way of specialized onboard equipment and weapons.

SPECIAL-MISSION: ANTI-SHIP
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.

MARITIME / NAVY
Land-based or shipborne capability for operating over-water in various maritime-related roles while supported by allied naval surface elements.

TRANSPORT
General transport functionality to move supplies/cargo or personnel (including wounded and VIP) over range.

INTELLIGENCE-SURVEILLANCE-RECONNAISSANCE
Surveil ground targets / target areas to assess environmental threat levels, enemy strength, or enemy movement.

68.2 ft
(20.80 meters)
Length

126.0 ft
(38.40 meters)
Width/Span

24.4 ft
(7.44 meters)
Height

16,006 lb
(7,260 kilograms)
Empty Weight

28,001 lb
(12,701 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+11,995 lb
(+5,441 kg)
Weight Difference

4 x Liberty 12A inline piston engines (3 x puller; 1 x pusher) developing 400 horsepower each.
Propulsion

85 mph
(137 kph | 74 knots)
Max Speed

24,934 ft
(7,600 m | 5 miles)
Ceiling

1,461 miles
(2,352 km | 1,270 nm)
Range

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

OPTIONAL:
1 x 0.30 caliber machine guns in flexible bow cockpit.
1 x 0.30 caliber machine gun in flexible stern cockpit.

OPTIONAL:
Assumed bombload during war time.

0
Hardpoints

NC (Navy Curtiss) - Base Series Designation

NC-1 - Initial production model; 3 x Liberty V12 engines in tractor configuration; appearing in October 1918.

NC-2 - Second production model; damaged in accident and cannibalized for parts thereafter; 4 x Liberty V12 engines (3 x puller; 1 x pusher); post-war.

NC-3 - Third production model; post-war

NC-4 - Fourth production model; appearing in April 1919; completed first transatlantic flight in May 1919; post-war.

NC-5 - Fifth production model; post-war

NC-6 - Sixth production model; post-war

NC-7 - Seventh production model; post-war

NC-8 - Eighth production model; post-war

NC-9 - Ninth production model; post-war

NC-10 - Final production model; post-war

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