Curtiss CW-14R Osprey

Mgawa · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 3:23 am

I can't find anything valuable about this plane on internet.... any idea or help?

Cheers

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Try this:

http://www.google.com/search?gbv=2&hl=e ... tnG=Search

Good luck!

Saludos,

Tulio

Old SAR pilot · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:03 am

Deleted

Mgawa · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 5:15 am

Very good link but to rgeret I can not find how to contact for larger images... al in Spanish.

Old SAR pilot · **Posted:** Fri Jul 25, 2008 4:11 pm

Deleted

astixjr · **Posted:** Sat Jul 26, 2008 9:40 pm

I think the CW-14 series, Sportsman, Speedwing, and Osprey were built at the Curtiss Wright plant here in St. Louis. I looked in my files for some photos or information but I only found two images. One is in Joe Juptner's book V of civil a/c type certificates and the other is on a poster of Curtiss Wright's St. Louis built a/c types from 29' to 45'. I'll be at the museum on Sunday so I'll have a look in the files down there. You would think there would be more information here in St. Louis about the plant's production. CW built piles of a/c here, both civilian and military but they packed up at the end of WWII and this town largely forgot about them.

Starduster77 · **Joined:** Fri Feb 08, 2008 11:00 am **Posts:** 169

This Schiffer book has some info on that plane,Aircraft of the Chaco War 1928-1935 http://www.schifferbooks.com/newschiffe ... 0764301462 .
Sorry I don't have a scanner.
Rick

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

Al,

Do you know if the St. Louis History Museum (@Forest Park) would have some archived data on airplane factories in the St. Louis area?

I could go there next time I am in town.

My PT-19B was originally built in St. Louis, so I would be interested in finding more info.

Saludos,

Tulio

astixjr · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2008 9:02 am

You have a St. Louis built Pt-19? That's amazing, I did not think any of the Ranger powered Fairchilds built here in town survived. I've only ever seen a few Pt-23s with the 220 Continental on them. I missed a Pt-23 with the SL on it's S/N that was for sale last year in IL. I think it's in FL now with another Wixer. Do you have the original data plate for your Pt-19? The corporate archives from St. Louis Car Company were given to the Mercantile Library which is now housed at UM St. Louis or St. Louis University. I've never had a chance to view the files but I know somebody who has.

The Missouri History Museum does have some information on early a/c production here in town but I've only searched their archives for Robertson Flying Service information. I assume the Curtiss Wright documents were packed up along with the drawings and taken back to CW's HQ when they pulled out of town right after WWII. I'll look for Osprey information today at Creve Coeur and then make some inquiries on Monday with the other archives here in town.

barnbstormer · **Posted:** Sun Jul 27, 2008 12:34 pm

I have the CW original data book from the company archives for:
"Curtiss-Wright Airplane Model Designations" from JN4A/1916 to 25 Sept 1945. It has a LOT of reports for planes built in St. Louis, and also includes their TravelAir and Moth production. Although we are talking about earlier aircraft production in this thread, it does have an additional itemized production list (couple of pages at the end)including exports for a lot of one-offs, for "Airplanes Manufactured by St. Louis Plant 1934-1945. which includes a couple of C-14 Ospreys.
In the main page listing charts, there are CW-14C as Travel Air Osprey/St.Louis/Curtiss Challenger engine/3POLB 185 hp./1931. Then CW-14/Travel Air Sportsman, CW-14/B-14-B/1932/R-975/3POLB/1932. Then Travel Air Speedwing (fabric covered)/B-14-D/1931/St. Louis/R-769/3POLB/240hp.
*Some later information includes:
sales Order D-6;9/13/39/Customer A.A. Ficken1 C-14 Osprey (used)-cancelled. Followed by: Sales Order D-7/10/5/39/H.M.McKay/C-14 Osprey Demonstrator (used)/mfd. St. Louis.
Later on, down the list, is the CW-17R/Pursuit/ Osprey (metal)/1932/St. Louis/ Whirlwind 420hp.
We used to own a CW-12/Sport Trainer/ Travel Air 12Q/W/1931 (it had been converted from the Gipsy engine to a Warner. Sent it to UK in 70's? and it came bac to U.S. later, I think?
This is first CW book I look in most of the time. I have other Company production books broken down by Curtiss/Curtiss-Wright/Moth/Travel Air/Keystone, and others, etc etc.
It charts from: "Design#; Type; Model Designation; Year; Quantity(often deleted, unfortunately); S.O.; Customer (every type as in Army, Navy, Bolivia, Mr, Judson..etc.etc)Model spec; Built at (Garden City, Buffalo, St.Louis etc); Engine(Make and Model; Description." columns
Many, MANY plane types built in St. Louis Plant, and many one-offs or export only types.

Tulio · **Joined:** Mon May 03, 2004 1:05 am **Posts:** 3236

My apologies for the thread hijack!

Al, I am sending you a PM.

Saludos,

Tulio

Warbird Information Exchange

Curtiss CW-14R Osprey

Who is online