The Thomas-Morse S-6 of 1919 was Thomas-Morse’s only production with tandem cockpits and dual controls. The one built, NC98, was used in racing competitions, placed second in the 1919 Nationals.
Engine: LeRhône, 80hp
Wingspan: 29’0″
Length: 27’4″
Max speed: 105 mph
Stall: 35 mph
Ceiling: 19,500′
Seats: 2
The 1926 Thomas-Morse O-6 is a metal-frame versions of Douglas O-2 built by Thomas-Morse under government contract. One went to McCook Field for testing as P-439 (25-435), and with a 435hp Liberty V-1650-1 was re-designated as O-6 (25-436).
Three production O-6 were built (25-437/439) with Liberty 12 engines.
The XO-6B of 1925 was a re-design of the O-6 with a 450hp P&W R-1340, revised wing covering and bracing, corrugated metal fuselage skin. One (25-440) was built as the prototype for O-19, McCook tested it as P-503.
The Thomas-Morse MB-4 mail carrier of 1920 had a centerline tractor/pusher engine nacelle pod in the middle, and twin fuselages from surplus MB-3s on either side. The bad characteristics included one fuselage tended to take off before the other, no communication between cockpits, and excessive motor vibration.
One went to the USPO but was never used in service and scrapped in 1921. Three went to the US Army (AS64306, AS64373 and AS64374); the first one to McCook Field as P-172.
Engine: 2 x Wright-Hisso H, 300hp
Wingspan: 45’6″
Length: 25’5″
Useful load: 2010 lb
Max speed: 140 mph
Cruise: 122 mph
Single-engine cruise: 100 mph
Range: 600 mi
Seats: 2
The sole Thomas-Morse MB-2 AS25806 of 1918 was powered with a 400hp Liberty 12-C but refitted with 450hp Liberty and four-bladed prop. It still lacked performance and it is not recorded if it ever completed flight tests.
Engine: 400hp Liberty 12-C
Wingspan: 31’0″
Length: 24’0″
Useful load: 726 lb
Seats: 2
Only one Thomas-Morse M-23 was built, in 1922, for Army evaluation. It was a single place open cockpit biplane.
Engine: Curtiss D-12, 425hp
Wingspan: 36’3″
Length: 20’0″
Seats: 1
The XP-13 Viper prototype was one of several B. Douglas Thomas designs built in hopes of a production contract from the Army, following the successful Thomas-Morse MB-3 of 1919. Financed by the company, and named the “Viper”, it was officially purchased by the Army in June 1929 and designated “XP-13”.
The Viper was delivered to the USAAC for evaluation in early 1929. The aircraft was tested at Wright Field in June 1929 as P-559, then purchased by the Army and designated XP-13. The serial number was 29-453. Performance was satisfactory, but the Chieftain suffered with insurmountable cooling problems. Similar problems had been encountered with Curtiss-built fighters powered by this engine.
The XP-13 fuselage had a corrugated aluminum skin built over a metal frame. The wing was of wooden construction with fabric covering, but the ailerons were made of corrugated metal sheet. Tail surfaces were of metal and fabric, but the control surfaces were covered with corrugated sheet metal. Designed to use the 600 hp Curtiss H-1640-1 Chieftain engine, (a 12-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial with the rear cylinders directly behind the front cylinders rather than staggered as normal in a two-row radial) incorporating a system of baffles to direct cooling air over the engine, the engine would not stay cool enough. In September 1930 it was replaced with a Pratt & Whitney SR1340C Wasp of 450 hp in a NACA cowling, along with a revised fin and rudder. The designation was changed to XP-13A. The lower-power engine actually resulted in a speed increase of 15 mph, at least partly because of the weight savings.
The airplane was delivered to the United States Army and tested at Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio, in June 1929 as P-559. The Army decided against production but the aircraft was purchased by the USAAC. The XP-13 Viper was the last fighter built by the Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation of Ithaca, New York. Thomas-Morse was acquired by Consolidated Aircraft, and the prototype was lost to an inflight fire.
Variants:
XP-13
Prototype, serial number 29-453 with 600 hp (448 kW) Curtiss H-1640-1 Chieftain hex engine
XP-13A
The XP-13 modified with a 525 hp (391 kW) Pratt & Whitney SR-1340-C enclosed in a NACA cowling, along with a revised fin and rudder
XP-14
This designation was used for a proposed Curtiss version of the Viper with the Curtiss H-1640-1 Chieftain hex engine
Specifications:
XP-13
Engine: 1 × Curtiss H-1640-1 Chieftain, 600 hp (448 kW)
Wingspan: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
Wing area: 189 sq.ft (17.6 sq.m)
Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.16 m)
Height: 8 ft 5 in (2.56 m)
Empty weight: 2,262 lb (1,026 kg)
Loaded weight: 3,256 lb (1,477 kg)
Maximum speed: 150 knots (172 mph, 277 km/h) (at sea level)
Maximum speed: 169.9 mph at 5000 ft
Cruise speed: 113 knots (130 mph, 209 km/h)
Range: 168 NM (193 mi, 312 km)
Service ceiling: 20,775 ft (6,300 m)
Rate of climb: 1,700 ft/min (8.6 m/s)
Climb to 5000 ft: 3 min
Crew: 1
Armament: None
XP-13A
Engine: Pratt & Whitney SR1340C Wasp, 450 hp
Wingspan: 28 ft 0 in (8.53 m)
Wing area: 189 sq.ft (17.6 sq.m)
Empty weight: 2224 lb
Gross weight: 3194 lb
Maximum speed: 188.5 mph at 5000 ft
Climb to 5000 ft: 3.5 min
Service ceiling: 24,150 ft
Crew: 1
Armament: None
The first O-19B was converted to the sole Y1O-33 on May 4, 1931, fitted with revised tail surfaces and a 600 hp Curtiss V-1570-11 Conqueror twelve-cylinder Prestone-cooled V-engine replacing the original 450 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340-7 Wasp nine-cylinder air-cooled radial.
The last prototype designed by B.D. Thomas with the Thomas-Morse name was a sesquiplane (small lower wing) known as the XO-932 when first flown on May 4, 1931. A geared, Prestone-cooled Conqueror in a neat cowl, N struts, and wheel pants were featured.
Later this aircraft was fitted with new sesqui-wings, while the Conqueror was geared, and the aircraft, tentatively designated Y1O-41, was tested at Wright Field, Ohio, in June 1931 on a Bailment Contract as the XO-932.
That model was rejected by an Army board because the basic structure seemed weak and the board now believed that “a monoplane is the most desirable type for ¬observation purposes because of its superior qualities of vision.” While not sold to the Army, the aircraft received the YlO-41 designation 30-90.
Thomas-Morse had become a division of Consolidated in 1929 and was discontinued in 1934, the year the XO-932 was stripped of its military equipment and rebuilt as the Consolidated 23 on September 21, 1934. Registered NR33Y the aircraft was used as a company transport till it was sold to Colonel Alfredo Lezama Alvarez of Mexico in December 1936, where it was registered as XA-DBX.
The last aircraft produced by Thomas-Morse the fate of the XO-932 sesquiplane of 1932 is unknown.
Y1O-33
Engine: Curtiss V1570-11, 600 hp
Wingspan: 39 ft 9 in
Wing area: 348 sq,ft
Length: 29 ft 2 in
Height: 10 ft 2 in
Empty weight: 3130 lb
Gross weight: 4291 lb
Fuel capacity: 77.5 USG
Top speed: 165 mph at SL / 158 mph at 10,000 ft
Cruise speed: 143 mph
Landing speed: 58 mph
Service ceiling: 22,600 ft
Absolute ceiling: 24,000 ft
Rate of climb: 1840 fpm
Climb to 10,000ft: 6 min
Range: 443 mi
XO-932
Engine: Curtiss V1570-29, 600 hp
Wingspan: 40 ft 8 in
Wing area: 299 sq,ft
Length: 29 ft 3 in
Height: 10 ft
Empty weight: 3254 lb
Gross weight: 4394 lb
Fuel capacity: 79 USG
Top speed: 188 mph at SL / 181 mph at 10,000 ft
Service ceiling: 24,250 ft
Absolute ceiling: 25,500 ft
Rate of climb: 1840 fpm
Climb to 10,000ft: 6.9 min
The Thomas-Morse O-19 two-seat observation aircraft was a 1929 improved version of XO-6 design.
The prototype XO-19, 28-400, first flew in April 1929 powered with a 450hp P&W R-1340-3. Only the one XO-19 was built, later becoming the XO-19B. Converted in 1930, it was for McCook Field tests as P-598.
Two O-19 were built in 1929 for service tests, powered with the 500hp R-1340-9 engine. They became O-20 28-401 and -21 29-369.
The sole O-19A from 1929, 29-370, featured a modified fuel tank.
The O-19B of 1930 was the first production version, with new cockpits. Seventy were built, 30-90 to 30-159, the first converted to Y1O-33.
Seventy-one O-19C from 1931 were built by Consolidated Co: 31-278 to 31-348. They featured a ring cowling and tail wheel. One O-19C, 31-279, was converted in 1931 as staff transport for the Secretary of War.
Thirty of the 1932 O-19E were built: 31-523 to 31-552.
The Thomas-Morse O-20 of 1929 was the O-19 powered with a 525hp P&W R-1690-1. One was built as the YO-20 (28-402), plus one re-designated from O-19 (28-401).
The Thomas-Morse O-21 was the O-19 with a 600hp Curtiss H-1640 Chieftain engine.
One XO-21 was built, 28-403, and one O-21 re-designated from O-19, 29-369, in 1929.
The 1929 XO-21A was XO-21 refitted with a 525hp Wright R-1750-1 engine.
The Thomas-Morse O-23 of 1929 was an O-19 with a 600hp Curtiss GV-1570-29 Conqueror engine. One was built as YO-23 (29-352).
Development/production of these continued after Thomas-Morse had been acquired in 1929 by Consolidated Aircraft Corporation.
XO-19
Engine: P&W R-1340-3, 450hp
O-19
Engine: P&W R-1340-9, 500hp
O-19B
Engine: P&W R-1340-7, 450hp
Wingspan: 39’9″
Wing area: 348 sq.ft
Length: 28’4″
Height: 10 ft
Empty weight: 2732 lb
Gross weight: 3910 lb
Max weight: 4233 lb
Fuel capacity: 80+40 USG
Useful load: 1078 lb
Max speed: 139 mph at SL / 135 mph at 10,000 ft
Cruise speed: 121 mph
Landing speed: 57 mph
Service ceiling: 20,500 ft
ROC: 1780 fpm
Tme to 10,000 ft: 11 min
Range: 397 mi normal / 462 mi max
Seats: 2
O-19C
Engine: R-1340-7, 450hp
Wingspan: 39 ft 9 in
Wing area: 348 sq.ft
Length: 29 ft
Height: 10 ft 0 in
Empty weight: 2769 lb
Gross weight: 3921 lb
Max weight: 4269 lb
Fuel capacity: 76+39 USG
Top speed: 143 mph at SL / 137 mph at 10,000 ft
Cruise speed: 124 mph
Landing speed: 57 mph
Service ceiling: 20,000 ft
Absolute ceiling: 21,800 ft
ROC: 1810 fpm
Climb to 10,000 ft: 11 min
Range: 377 mi normal / 436 mi max
O-19E
Engine: R-1340-15, 575hp at 5000 ft
Wingspan: 40’0″
Wing area: 359 sq.ft
Length: 28’10”
Height: 10 ft 4 in
Empty weight: 2774 lb
Gross weight: 3938 lb
Max weight: 4275 lb
Fuel capacity: 80+40 USG
Top speed: 156 mph at 5000 ft / 153 mph at 10,000 ft
Cruise speed: 136 mph
Landing speed: 57 mph
Service ceiling: 23,500 ft
Climb to 10,000 ft: 10.7 min
Range: 473 mi
O-20
Engine: P&W R-1690-1, 525hp
O-21
Engine: Curtiss H-1640 Chieftain, 600hp
XO-21A
Engine: Wright R-1750-1, 525hp
YO-23
Engine: Curtiss GV-1570-29 Conqueror, 600hp
Wingspan: 29’9″
Speed: 192 mph
Developed from the MB-3, three MB-6 were built of which one was used for static tests, one crashed, and the last, AS68537, was re-designated R-2 for the 1921 Pulitzer races, piloted by John A Macready.
Speed: 185 mph
In 1936 M A Thomas of Pasadena CA. built a two place open cockpit biplane registered NC190M.
Engine: Warner Jr, 90hp
Wingspan: 37’7″
Length: 26’6″
Useful load: 550 lb
Max speed: 100 mph
Cruise speed: 90 mph
Stall: 38 mph
Range: 440 mi
Ceiling: 14,000′
Seats: 2
All Aero 