Several Thrush J-6 airplanes were flown by female pilots during the early 1930s to make record-breaking endurance flights, including one in which the aircraft stayed aloft for almost 10 days.
The 1929 Curtiss Thrush bridged the gap between small personal aircraft and larger commercial airliners. (Photo from the Paul S. Maynard archive)
The Curtiss Thrush exemplified the transitional phase of aviation in the late 1920s. The 1929 Thrush bridged the gap between small personal aircraft and larger commercial airliners. Its design innovations and contributions to endurance flying underscore its significance in aviation history.
Introduced in 1929, the Curtiss Thrush is a six-passenger, high-wing monoplane developed by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co. Based on an enlarged version of the Curtiss Robin, the Thrush aimed to serve as a light transport and utility aircraft. Its development featured both Curtiss and Wright engines, reflecting the era’s rapid advancements in aviation technology.
Aviation historian Joseph P. Juptner, in his work “U.S. Civil Aircraft: Vol. 3,” noted that “the fuselage of the Thrush formed the basis for the twin-engine Curtiss Kingbird.” The plane’s design would highlight its influence on subsequent aircraft developments.
Design and Development
The initial prototypes of the Curtiss Thrush were equipped with 170 horsepower Curtiss Challenger engines. However, these engines were found to be underpowered for the aircraft’s design. Consequently, the production models designated Thrush J were outfitted with more robust 225-hp Wright J-6-7 Whirlwind radial engines. This upgrade significantly enhanced the aircraft’s performance.
The fuselage construction utilized a Pratt truss frame made primarily from duralumin tubing, a high-strength, lightweight aluminum alloy. Chrome-molybdenum steel reinforced high-stress areas, all covered in fabric. The wings featured solid spruce spars and stamped Alclad ribs, with a semi-cantilever design supported by steel tube struts.
The Curtiss Thrush J-6 “Outdoor Girl” flown by pilots Helen Richey and Frances Marsalis. (Photo courtesy of San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive)
Operational History
The Curtiss Thrush played a notable role in early aviation endurance records. In August 1932, pilots Louise Thaden and Frances Marsalis flew a Thrush J, named “I.J. Fox,” for 196 hours and 5 minutes. Their effort set an endurance record near Valley Stream, N.Y. This achievement contributed to Thaden receiving the Harmon Trophy in 1936. (“I. J. Fox” refers to their sponsor, a nationally known fur store operator founded by Isidore Joseph Fox.
Later, in December 1933, pilots Helen Richey and Frances Marsalis set another endurance record. The pair of women pilots flew another Thrush J, “Outdoor Girl,” for 237 hours and 42 minutes over Miami, Fla. (The plane was named for a brand of women’s cosmetics, a new sponsor.) Their Thrush J-6 was refueled from the air by a Curtiss Robin. The endurance flight further demonstrated the aircraft’s capabilities.
Internationally, the Thrush saw limited use. The China National Aviation Corp. ordered 12 units, but only 10 were produced, with just one making it to China in 1930.
Additionally, one Thrush was operated in Cuba by the Compañía Nacional Cubana de Aviación Curtiss. A subsidiary of North American Aviation Inc., the airline was the precursor to Cubana de Aviación, the national airline of Cuba.
1929 Curtiss Thrush Specifications
- Crew: One to two (with dual controls)
- Capacity: Six passengers
- Length: 32 feet 7 inches
- Wingspan: 48 feet 0 inches
- Height: 9 feet 3 inches
- Wing Area: 305 square feet
- Empty Weight: 2,260 pounds
- Gross Weight: 3,800 pounds
- Fuel Capacity: 110 U.S. gallons
- Powerplant: 1 225-hp Wright J-6-7 (R-760) radial engine.
- Maximum Speed: 122 mph
- Cruise Speed: 104 mph
- Range: 900 miles
- Service Ceiling: 13,200 feet
- Rate of Climb: 650 feet per minute (3.3 meters per second)
SOURCE: Wikipedia.
This is another image from my dad, Paul Smith Maynard, who worked as an engineer in aviation for four decades. Dad began his career in about 1943 after graduating from West Virginia University. He started with Curtiss-Wright Corp., a pioneer in making flying machines. He went on to work at North American Aviation and Rockwell International. See more of his vintage plane pics here.
