NOTE: RADIO CONTROL AIRPLANES ARE ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE PAGE.
The Curtiss SBC Helldiver was a U.S. Navy biplane with retractable landing gear that first flew in 1934. The Navy never ordered any additional aircraft other than monoplanes as combat aircraft after the SBC.
The SBC Helldiver was originally ordered as a fighter, then an observation aircraft, then a combination observation bomber, and eventually as a dive bomber. It was modified by Curtiss with each role change proposed by the Navy.
The SBC Helldiver originally was a single parasol wing design. This was found unsatisfactory when it was used as a dive bomber. The design was changed to a conventional biplane wing. More powerful engines were fitted to the airframe.
Deliveries of the Curtiss SBC Helldiver to the U.S.N. began in 1939. Both the Americans and the British used the aircraft as trainers, for by this time they were outmoded by more modern aircraft. We are told that although the Helldiver did not contribute to the war effort as a combat aircraft, it had great value as a dive bombing training aircraft.
A total of 257 Curtiss SBC Helldiver aircraft of all types were produced.
The rc airplane pictured immediately above and below is the good looking rc giant scale SBC Helldiver built by master modeler Carl Bachhuber. It has a 86" wingspan and is powered
by a Sachs Dolmar 4.8 engine.
The second picture below is the rc SBC Helldiver biplane built from plans for sale by RCM. They are from Albert Isaacson and build to a 55.5" wingspan.
Construction is all wood. Engine can be a .46 2C. Plan no. 1220.
Pictured third below is Duke Horn and his rubber powered free flight SBC Helldiver. We do not know the wingspan or weight of the model. A number of free flight models have been converted to radio control.
The bottom picture is of the rc SBC Helldiver biplane project built from plans for sale from Vanguard Plans. It has a wingspan of 68" and weighs about 16 lbs.
Engines can be from 1.20 to 1.80 4C.
Scale RC Models.com has two sizes of plans for sale of the rc SBC Helldiver biplane designed by Herb Hall. The smaller has a 42 1/2" wingspan and a 33 1/2" length. Engines are from .35 to .45 two cycle and weight is about 9
The larger rc SBC Helldiver plans for sale from Scale RC Models build to a wingspan of 85" and a length of 67". You will need from 2.5 to 5.0 engines to power the 16 lb. model.
Dumas has a Helldiver SBC free flight kit for sale with a 30" wingspan that has been converted to radio control.
Cleveland Models has plans for the rc SBC Helldiver biplane for sale with wingspans of 25", 33 1/2", 50", 67" and giant scale 100".
The AMA Plans Service has plans for a rc SBC Helldiver you can make from a FF gas model with a 36" wingspan. Plan is #14472.
Curtiss SBC Helldiver
