Curtiss-Wright Model 21 fighter

Curtiss-Wright Model 21 fighter

The Model 21 (also known as the CW-21 Interceptor, CW-21 Demonstrator and CW-21 Demon) was an American built light-weight fighter exported in small numbers to China and the Dutch East Indies.

The version below was one of 24 built for the Dutch in 1940, which had slight aerodynamic improvements (landing gear retracted inwards instead of backwards and the tailwheel partially retracted) over the Chinese version, as well as doubled guns armament. Three of this improved model were sent to China but crashed before becoming operational.

The CW-21 did not fare well in combat against the Japanese, being slower than the Oscar and Zero and just as poorly protected.

The crew consists of a pilot. The CW-21B uses 33.6 gallons of aviation fuel per hour at routine usage.

Subassemblies: Light Fighter Chassis +3, Light Fighter Wings +2, three retractable wheels +0.
Powertrain: 746-kW aerial HP gasoline engine with 746-kW prop and 90-gallon standard fuel tanks [Body/Wings].
Occupancy: 1 CS Cargo: 2 Body

Armor
All: 2/3
Pilot: B 0/+10

Armament
2xVery Long Aircraft HMGs/M-2 [Body:F] (200 each)*
2xAircraft LMG/M-2 [Wings:F] (500 each)**
* Link fires both guns ** Link fires both guns
Additional link fires all four guns

Equipment
Body: Medium radio receiver and transmitter, navigation instruments, autopilot.

Statistics

Size: 27'x35'x9'	Payload: 0.49 tons	Lwt: 2.25 tons
Volume: 144	Maint.: 51 hours	Price: $15,300

HT: 9
HP: 100 [body], 70 [each wing], 10 [each wheel]

aSpeed: 315

aAccel: 10

aDecel: 22

aMR: 5.5

aSR: 2

Stall: 73

Design Notes
Design speed was 332 mph. The historical speed has been used, as well as the actual wing area (174 square feet). Weight, cost and HPs of the chassis were doubled. Loaded weight was increased by 3%.

One-fifth of an armored crew station was purchased.

Variants
The initial model (1939) for China had a lower speed (307 mph) and only mounted on .30-cal and one .50-cal machinegun, both in the nose. 32 were built.