Here are
plans for the Curtiss A-3B Falcon that I electronically scanned from my purchased copy of the March
1968 American Aircraft Modeler magazine. You might be able to scale up the images below if suitable
plans cannot be located. Plans for this fine model were drawn by Mr. Paul R. Matt. All copyrights
(if any) are hereby acknowledged.
"The Curtiss Falcon is a family of military biplane aircraft built by the United States aircraft
manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company during the 1920s. Most saw service as part of the
United States Army Air Corps as observation aircraft with the designations O-1 and O-11, or as the
attack aircraft designated the A-3 Falcon." -
Wikipedia
Curtiss A-3B Falcon
Jack of all trades - master of a few - sums up the Falcon aircraft series.
by Paul Matt
BORN and bred at the Garden City facilities of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co. in 1924 and
later produced at Buffalo, the Falcon sired many offspring. A number of attempts were made to lump
the Falcon series together as one with each used in different ways. This is unfair to the historical
significance of the basic design. Despite the many variations and uses for which the Falcons were
submitted and the strong family resemblance, each type was different and each had its own personality.
We cannot delve into the entire Falcon line within this limited space. However, we can touch upon
the development of the A-3 Attack models.
Between 1924 and 1926 the Army Air Corps, for the first time, started a systematic categorizing
of its aircraft - thus the A-Attack, B-Bombardment, C-Cargo, O-Observation, P-Pursuit, etc. designations.
An extended program was undertaken to secure new aircraft to fill these definite requirements. Prior
to this, there were numerous unrelated designations with an equal number of aircraft serving various
purposes unsuccessfully.
In the fall of 1924 the Air Corps held several open competitions for new airÂcraft. Among them
were the requirements for a two-place observation aircraft to replace the weary DH-4Bs. Private
industry welcomed this opportunity to produce their own designs, unhampered by McCook Field Ordnance
and Engineering Department specifications. Basic requirements were set forth. Certain military goals
had to be met, but the industry had a more liberal hand in the final concept. The only stringent
stipulation seemed rather ridiculous from the engineers' point of view; the power plant had to be
the Liberty 12 engine of WWI vintage. This was an economy move by the military.
Eleven manufacturers competed at McCook Field. Each product was assigned


Notice:
The AMA Plans Service offers a full-size
version of many of the plans show here at a very reasonable cost. They will scale the plans any size for you. It is always
best to buy printed plans because my scanner versions often have distortions that can cause parts to fit poorly. Purchasing
plans also help to support the operation of the Academy of Model
Aeronautics - the #1 advocate for model aviation throughout the world. If the AMA no longer has this plan on file, I
will be glad to send you my higher resolution version.
Try my Scale Calculator for Model Airplane Plans.
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