1936 Photo Curtiss A-3 Army Air Corps Military Observation Plane Attack Version for Sale

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1936 Photo Curtiss A-3 Army Air Corps Military Observation Plane Attack Version For Sale

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1936 Photo Curtiss A-3 Army Air Corps Military Observation Plane Attack Version:
$74.99

This 1936 photo depicts the Curtiss A-3 Army Air Corps observation plane (attack version).

Approximate size: 9.75 inches x 7.75 inches

Curtiss A-3 (Model 44) was an attack version of the O-1 Falcon two-seat observation aircraft of the Army Air Service.
In 1924 the Army scheduled a competition for a successor to the aging DH-4Bs and -4Ms still serving with the Air Service. Since the Army still had a large number of surplus Liberty engines left over from WW1, the War Department ordered that the competitors in the observation plane contest fit their first entries with this engine. The trials were to begin in November of 1924.
The Curtiss entry was the XO-1 powered by a water-cooled 420hp Liberty V-1650-1. It was a fairly conventional two-seat biplane with a single bay wing on N-type interplane struts. It had unique fuselage construction techniques for its tim—aluminum tubing bolted and riveted together with steel tie-rod bracing. The wings were wooden-framed with a wire trailing edge and the new Clark-Y aerofoil. The center section was well forward for pilot access and visibility, so the upper wing panels had to be swept back nine degrees to achieve balance.
The Curtiss design took second place to Douglas XO-2 in the 1924 observation plane contest; however, the Army was fully aware that the supply of surplus Liberty engines would not last forever, nor would they be suitable much longer as a powerplant for future first-line military aircraft. Consequently, in 1925, another contest was held for observation types to be powered by the 510hp Packard 1A-1500, a more advanced V-12 liquid-cooled engine. Conversion of the XO-1 to the 1A-1500 was fairly straightforward. Then the Curtiss design won the contest, and an order for ten production aircraft was issued as O-1.

Please inspect the pictures, as they give the best representation of condition.May have discoloring, edge or corner wear, marks, creases, fading, smudges, corner or edge bends, tears, or corners missing.

In particular, there is a crease along the top left and top right corner.

(D38 inventory number)