Curtiss Rheim racer

14 January 2006, 01:21 PM

If I may take a minute to pick the brains of you people who probably have more idea on these matters than myself.
I am considering building one of these excellent planes (as a 12 ft model) which will be radio controlled.
I can build it using all the available photographs I have managed to collect from many sources online even though this will take a lot of time scaling images and parts up to size.
What I am ideally looking for is a 3 view plan of the plane or anything similar .
Does anyone out there know if such a thing exists as I am having trouble locating it if it does !
Thank you in advance
Shane

Hudson-Flier · 14 January 2006, 05:25 PM

Get a copy of the book: "Curtiss - The Hammondsport Era 1907-1915" by Louis Casey. There is a three view of the Rheim's Racer with some dimensions.

There are conflicting numbers on this print, so PM me, or contact the Curtiss Museum for clarification.

Some correct numbers:

wingspan: 26'-3"
length: 30'-4"

Each outer wing section is 5' overall in length, and the center wing section is 6'-3"

Good luck with the model. I may build a 1/4 scale model of the Hudson Flier, along with the full size one we are building at the Curtiss Museum. It was based on the Rheim's Racer, but was modified for the Hudson River flight.

PfalzPflyer · 14 January 2006, 08:34 PM

I visited a place in Hastings, Nebraska this year called "Harold Warp's Pioneer Village". (Yes, I realize the name sounds hokey, but it really is a neat place.) Mr. Warp was one of the early developers and marketers of clear plastics in the U.S., and made himself a nice little fortune in the process. He became quite a collector of historical items, everything from Old West buildings and antique machinery of all sorts to vintage cars and old airplanes, and the collection takes up several large buildings and numerous smaller ones.

The reason I mention this is that there is a Curtis Pusher in his collection that is displayed with a sign explaining that the fuselage structure (such as it is on a Curtis Pusher) is from the original Rheims Racer, which was recycled into a later model design.

Is there anyone out there who can confirm or convincingly rebuke this claim? I know that parts where often re-used in the early days of flight. It would be neat to think that the Rheims Racer (or what's left of it) is preserved in a museum right here in Nebraska.

PfalzPflyer

Hudson-Flier · 15 January 2006, 05:00 AM

Wow, that would be great if that turned out to be true!

Will have to check with the Curtiss Museum, and see if they know anything about it.

Otherwise, I will make some phone calls this week to see what I can find out.

Did you get any pictures of it?

PfalzPflyer · 17 January 2006, 08:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hudson-Flier

Did you get any pictures of it?

It was hanging overhead, which makes photos difficult, but I tried to get some. Now that I think of it, I'm not sure if SWMBO ever got those developed. (I'd have used the digital camera now, but was not so equipped at that time.

)
If I have any pics worth posting, I will.

Hudson-Flier · 20 January 2006, 07:54 PM

The Curtiss Museum was not aware of "Pioneer Village", nor the part about the Rheim's Racer fuselage.

Made a couple of calls out to "Pioneer Village", but haven't been able to get the right person on the phone yet. May have better luck next week.

20 January 2006, 10:26 PM

There is a good, detailed 3-view of the Curtiss 1909 Rheims Racer in Charles Mendenhahall's The Air Racer, Specialty Press Publishers and Wholesalers , North Branch, Mn 55056 . ISBN Number is 0-933424-01-9

Hope this helps

Speaking of Curtiss planes, I live in Portland, Oregon and visited a guy with a private collection of 2 wharehouses of planes in Hood River and he showed me one of two Curtiss Pushers he had, the other being restored and in the small museum in Vancouver, WA.

JGP

22 January 2006, 08:12 AM

From http://www.earlyaviators.com/elaird2.htm:

Curtiss Curtiss Airplane Co. 1910 Bi-Plane
Flown by Chas. K. Hamilton in 1st New York-Philadelphia run in 1910; Original engine removed after flight (same engine Curtiss won 1909 Rheims, France race with)

Also, wonder if this has anything to do with it: http://www.neam.org/bunce.htm

Hudson-Flier · 26 January 2006, 07:07 AM

Spoke with Marshall, of the Pioneer Village Museum.

He will be sending me a photo of the Pusher in question, and will see what documentation they have to support their claim.

Hopefully have something in a week or two.

cfgray · 6 February 2006, 11:55 PM

Hi,
The Warp Village is a fun place to visit, I spent a day there, but it isn't a great source of accurate historical information. The so-called Curtiss biplane is an (early) amateur-built machine, but certainly NOT one used by CK Hamilton or Mr. GH Curtiss. The "Gnome" rotary engines they have on display are likewise NOT Gnomes.
Best,
cfgray