Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
 Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Photo: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
| |
| Make | Curtiss |
|---|---|
| Model | Curtiss SB2C Helldiver |
| Type | Dive bomber |
| Country |  United States
|
| First flight | 18 December 1940 |
| Built | 1943–1945 |
| Number built | 7,140 |
| Registered in the US | 3 (FAA register, October 30, 2026) |
| Seats | 2 |
| Engine | Wright R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone, 1,900 hp |
| Cruise speed | 158 mph (SB2C-4 Helldiver) |
| Service ceiling | 29,100 ft (SB2C-4 Helldiver) |
| Max weight | 16,616 lb (SB2C-4 Helldiver)
|
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The Curtiss SB2C Helldiver is an American carrier dive bomber of World War II, built to replace the Douglas SBD Dauntless. Curtiss built 7,140.[1] Its crews were not fond of it, and its nicknames included "the Beast" and a rude one based on its initials.[1] In the U.S. there are 3 with a valid registration.[2]
History
The Navy asked for a Dauntless replacement in 1938. The Helldiver had to be much bigger and carry more, yet stay short enough that two fit on a carrier elevator.[1] The prototype first flew on December 18, 1940, and handled poorly. Late changes caused long delays, the Truman Committee investigated and wrote a scathing report, and it only entered service in December 1942.[1] The bad publicity helped bring about the decline of Curtiss as a company.[1]
The Helldiver was faster than the Dauntless, and by the end of the war it had become the Navy's main dive bomber.[1] A land-based Army version, the A-25 Shrike, mostly went to the Marine Corps, and Italy flew the last Helldivers until 1959.[1]
Registered in the United States
The FAA register lists 3 of these airplanes with a valid U.S. registration. Here they are by the model name the FAA uses.[2]
| FAA model name | Registered |
|---|---|
| SB2C5 | 2 |
| SB2C HELLDIVER | 1 |
Specifications (SB2C-4 Helldiver)
| Item | SB2C-4 Helldiver |
|---|---|
| Crew | 2 |
| Length | 36 ft 8 in |
| Wingspan | 49 ft 9 in |
| Height | 13 ft 2 in |
| Wing area | 422 sq ft |
| Empty weight | 10,547 lb |
| Maximum takeoff weight | 16,616 lb |
| Engine | Wright R-2600-20 Twin Cyclone, 1,900 hp (14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine) |
| Propeller | constant-speed propeller |
| Maximum speed | 295 mph |
| Cruise speed | 158 mph |
| Service ceiling | 29,100 ft |
| Rate of climb | 1,800 ft/min |
Figures as given in the Wikipedia article and its sources.[1]
Photos
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A Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver (U.S. Photo: Cobatfor, CC BY-SA 3.0 -
This photo shows the prototype Curtiss XSB2C-1 Helldiver on its maiden flight on 18 December 1940. Photo: The original uploader was Felix c at English Wikipedia., Public domain -
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Photo: U.S. Navy, Public domain -
A Royal Australian Air Force Curtiss A-25A Shrike in flight over the United States, circa in 1943. Photo: U.S. Navy, Public domain -
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Photo: see the file page on Commons, Public domain -
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver. Photo: see the file page on Commons, Public domain -
Curtiss A-25A-5-CS Shrike (Serial Number: 41-18787). Photo: USAAF, Public domain -
Curtiss SB2C-5 Helldiver at the Royal Thai Air Force Museum,Don Mueang,Bangkok,24/07/14. Photo: Alec Wilson from Khon Kaen, Thailand, CC BY-SA 2.0
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All photos are from Wikimedia Commons; click a photo for its full credit and license.
Buying a Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 Wikipedia, "Curtiss SB2C Helldiver", read November 1, 2026. Airplane Wiki's text is written in its own words; facts are checked against this article and its sources.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Federal Aviation Administration, Releasable Aircraft Database, file dated October 30, 2026. Valid registrations of fixed-wing airplanes whose FAA maker and model names belong to this family. Airplane Wiki uses only counts from this file, never owner names or addresses.