A popular two-place production aircraft from a famous builder was offered with a variety of engine options and actually flew at the USA National Air Races (with pilot) powered by four tiny model-aircraft motors to demonstrate its modest power demands.

1. What company was the builder of the aircraft?

2.What was the aircraft's designator/s and popular name?

3. What earlier aircraft were they derived from?

4. Bonus for at least three engines tested or production-offered. These were differentiated by separate model designators and ATC designators such as for example-the Cessna 120/140 ATC # 768 and the Cessna 190/195 ATC # 790.

3 months later

Possibly my most esoteric quiz question, this puppy has had over 500 views with no takers, so here are the answers.

1. Curtiss-Wright of St. Louis, Missouri.

2. Designator: CW-1. Popular name: Curtiss Junior of 1931. A two-place tandem open cockpits with windscreens parasol-wing pusher engine monoplane taildragger. Welded steel tube fuselage and tail, wings wood all with fabric cover. Modest wing dihedral.

3. Earlier aircraft derived from: Wright CR-1 Skeeter of 1930, a parasol wing design thought to be from the Snyder Buzzard Light Plane, the rights to which were purchased by Curtiss in July 1930. Only one Skeeter was built, considered the prototype for the 1931 CW-1 series, registered 607V.

4. Bonus answers: ATC 397 was built with a 45 Hp Szekely SR-3 3 cylinder radial pusher. Under ATC 2-344 was built as CW-1A Junior as test bed for an Augustine B4-40 35 Hp engine, only one-NC11851. Under ATC 2-525 was built as CW-1S Junior with Salmson AD-9 engine, only two built. The production CW-1 Junior had many later conversions to Continental C-40 to -65 engines for greater reliability.

Curtiss-Wright was considered at the time one of America's largest aircraft builders with many subsequent larger aircraft. Sold production of the CW-1 Curtiss Junior totaled 270 by 1932. At the 1938 National Air Races, a CW-1 Junior with four tiny model aircraft motors demonstrated its modest power requirements and low wing loading by flying daily.

CW-1 Specifications & Performance

Powerplant Szekely SR-3, 45 Hp

Span (ft/in) 39/6

Length (ft/in) 21/3

Wing area (sq ft) 176

Empty weight (lb) 570

Gross weight (lb) 975

Wing loading (lb/sq ft) 5.5

Power loading (lb/Hp) 21.7

Max speed (mph) 80

Cruise speed (mph) 70

Rate of climb (fpm) 580

Ceiling (ft) 12,000

Range (mi) 200

Price $1,490 (raised to $1,595)

My thanks to all viewers stumped by this bit of aircraft history.