Naval Aircraft Factory / Curtiss TS

The Naval Aircraft Factory TS-1 was an early biplane fighter aircraft of the United States Navy, serving from 1922 to 1929.

It was powered by a 200 hp Lawrance J-1 air-cooled radial engine and had a boxy fuselage suspended between the upper and lower wings.

Curtiss developed two all-metal versions of the aircraft, F4C-1s, which were armed with two.30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns and powered by a 200 hp nine-cylinder Wright J-3 radial.

The TS-1s served for several years in floatplane configuration aboard destroyers, cruisers, and battleships, but were not universally liked by its crews due to short wheel struts and their placement close to each other.

Variants

Naval Aircraft Factory TS-1

Five built.

Curtiss TS-1

34 built.

NAF TS-2

Two built, 240 hp (180 kW) Aeromarine engine.

NAF TS-3

Two built, 180 hp (130 kW) Wright-Hispano E engine.

NAF TR-2

One built, TS-3 modified by changing the airfoil section on the wings for the 1922 Curtiss Marine Trophy race.

Curtiss-Hall F4C-1

All metal versions for comparison to the original wood and wire construction; two built.

Specifications

Crew

1

Length

22 ft 1.375 in (6.74053 m)

Wingspan

25 ft 0.3125 in (7.627938 m)

Height

8 ft 11.9375 in (2.741613 m)

Wing area

227.8 sq ft (21.16 m²)

Airfoil

USA 27

Empty weight

1,239 lb (562 kg)

Gross weight

1,927.5 lb (874 kg)

Powerplant

1 × Lawrance J-1 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine,

200 hp (150 kW)

Propellers

2-bladed fixed-pitch propeller

Performance

Maximum speed

131 mph (211 km/h, 114 kn)

Cruise speed

104.8 mph (168.7 km/h, 91.1 kn)

Range

468 mi (753 km, 407 nmi)

Service ceiling

14,400 ft (4,400 m)

Rate of climb

1,200 ft/min (6.1 m/s)

Armament

Guns

2 x fixed forward-firing 0.300 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns.