Curtiss Sedan

The Curtiss-Wright Air Sedan model 15 is a fairly large high-wing monoplane with comfortable seating for four, or also well suited for hard work with a payload capacity of nearly 1200 lbs.   It was certified in June of 1931.    A total of 15 Air Sedans were produced.   This one is the prototype, built by the TravelAir factory at Wichita Kansas, with serial number 2001.  A couple months later, production was moved to St Louis.   Three were designated as model 15-N, powered with Kinner C-5 of 210 h.p.    This one and  8 others  were powered by the 185 h.p. R-600 Curtiss Challenger and designated as 15-C.    A couple months later the model 15-D was released with the 240 h.p. Wright R-760-E.   Several C’s were modified by the factory and sold as D’s.   A total of 15 aeroplanes were produced.   Of the 15, there are only  3 other fuselage frames known to still exist. Unfortunately only one is intact and the rest of the parts are in an unknown location.

    Wing span is 43′ 5″,  length 30′ 5″,  height 8′ 10″,  gross weight of 3360 lbs.   Published speed for the D model is 135 mph max, 115 cruise, and stall at 55 mph.   436W was field modified in 1947 to a 15-D to be used as a crop sprayer and again in 1970 with an extended cabin with a large rear door to haul up to 8 parachutists and towing gliders and powered by a Wright R-975 producing 440 h.p.   It will now be returned to its original -C condition,  however, the giant hot-rod motor will be retained.