Curtiss_CW-21

Developed from the CW-19 two seat light fighter. The CW-21 was an interceptor all metal construction and low wing monoplane layout. The landing gear main units retracted rearward into under-wing fairing that left the wheels partially exposed. The first example flew in September 1938 with an 850-hp R-1820 engine, and was demonstrated in China during March 1939. The Chinese ordered 35 with more powerful engine and an armament of one heavy and one rifle caliber machine guns. Three were American built and the other 32 destined for assembly in China from kits. The three crashed during during their delivery flight from Burma, and the others were not assembled. In the CW-21B version, the manufacturer adopted inward retracting main units of the type developed for the CW-21. The Netherlands ordered 24 examples, and these were finally to the Dutch East Indies, where they proved vulnerable to Japanese fighters early in 1942 as the lack bulletproof windscreens and self sealing fuel tanks. Moreover, the CW-21Bs design as a fast climbing interceptor made the type vulnerable in dogfights with more agile Japanese fighters.

Description	Specifications
Manufacturer: Curtiss	Length: 27 ft. 2 in.
First Flight: September 1938	Height: 8 ft 11 in.
Model: B	Wing Span: 35 ft. 0 in.
Crew: One	Wing Area: 174.0 sq. ft.
Nickname: Demon	Empty Weight: 3,328 lb.
Basic Role: Interceptor.	Max. Weight: 4,500 lb.
Other Versions: CW-21 initial model. CWW-21B revised model	Armament: Two 0.5-in 12.7-mm or four 0.303-in 7.7-mm machine guns.
Principal User: China and the Netherlands.	Propulsion
Performance	Power Plant: Wright r-1820-G5 Cyclone radial piston engine.
Range: 630 miles.	Horsepower: 1,000-hp. (746-kW)
Max. Speed: 313 mph.	No. Of Engines: One
Ceiling: 34,300 ft.
Climb Rate: 13,125 ft. in 4 minutes 0 seconds.	Photo by Muess de 1' Air