Curtiss-Wright Junior

The Curtiss-Wright Junior was a small two-seat aircraft developed during the early years of American general aviation. Introduced at the start of the 1930s, it was designed as an affordable personal airplane. Its compact configuration reflected the era’s enthusiasm for private flying.

Curtiss Wright CW-1 Junior © SDASM Archives

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Overview

Curtiss United States ICAO: CW1 1930–1932 $1,500 (1931)

Curtiss-Wright Junior — two-seat light monoplaneThe Junior first flew in 1930 during a period of rapid aviation expansion. It featured a high-wing monoplane layout with the engine mounted above the wing. The design emphasized simplicity and low cost of ownership rather than speed or range.Power came from a small radial engine producing roughly 45 horsepower. Cruise speeds were modest, typically near 70 knots (130 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight was under 1,000 pounds (454 kg), consistent with its lightweight structure.Although sales were limited during the Great Depression, the Junior represents an early effort to democratize private aviation. Surviving examples are now rare collector aircraft. The design reflects the experimental and optimistic spirit of early general aviation.

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Szekely SR-3
Engine type
Piston
Power
45 hp · 34 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
2
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
21 ft 4 in  ·  6.50 m
Tail height
—
Fuselage diameter
2 ft 7 in  ·  0.80 m
Wing span
39 ft 6 in  ·  12.04 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
950 lb  ·  450 kg
Max landing weight
—
Max payload
300 lb  ·  150 kg
Fuel capacity
10 gal · 0 L · 0 kg (AvGas)
Max cruise speed
70 kt  ·  81 mph  ·  130 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
26 kt  ·  30 mph  ·  48 km/h
Range
170 nm  ·  200 mi  ·  310 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
12,000 ft  ·  3,700 m
Rate of climb
600 ft/min  ·  3 m/s
Takeoff distance
200 ft  ·  60 m
Landing distance
250 ft  ·  80 m
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Curtiss Wright CW-1 Junior ‘NC10943’ built in 1931.

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Operational Context

The Junior was built as a minimalist and economical aircraft built before the Great Depression for the public. Designed by Karl White, Walter Beech, and H.Lloyd Child, the aircraft was initially named the Skeeter with an all-new feature that maintained the standard layout of the Snyder Buzzard light sports aircraft. It was designed with a square cross-section fuselage constructed from a fabric-covered steel tube. On October 5, 1930, the aircraft took to the air for the first time. In 1931, the Skeeter was given the designation CW-1 Junior, by the time that the Curtiss had merged into Curtiss-Wright. In 2012, some aircraft were still being flown by private operators. A total number of 270 Juniors were built, approximately.

The CW-1 Junior was designed with a seat for a single pilot and a passenger in a tandem configuration. It has an external length of 6.48 meters, an external height of 2.24 meters, and a fuselage diameter of 0.8 meters. The wingspan is 12.04 meters and the wing area is 16.4 square meters. It has a fixed conventional landing gear with a wheelbase of 4.45 meters. The empty weight is 259 kg, the gross weight is 442 kg, and the maximum payload is 145 kg. It has a fuel tank capacity of 9.2 US gal.

The aircraft is powered by a single Szeley SR-3 engine. It is a three-cylinder radial piston engine with one camshaft per cylinder- pushrod-operated overhead inlet valves with one each per cylinder, a Stromberg carburetor fuel system, and an air cooling system. The engine produces a maximum takeoff thrust of 45 horsepower and drives a two-bladed fixed-pitch pusher propeller. It has a maximum speed of 70 knots and a travel range of 170 nautical miles. It can fly up to 1,200 feet and can climb at a rate of 600 feet per minute.