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In October 1925, Lt. Cyrus Bettis won the American Pulitzer Trophy race in a Curtiss R3C-1 racer traveling at more than four miles per minute (248.9 mph). The army air service officer effectively outran his competitors from the navy and the marines in front of thousands of excited spectators as part of the festivities of the National Air Races at Mitchel Field, Long Island, New York.

The R3C was actually two air racers in one. It could operate with two wheels and the tail skid seen here from an airfield (R3C-1) or a pair of floats, or pontoons, from the water (R3C-2) and it won races as both.

 Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Date 1925 Country of Origin United States of America Type CRAFT-Aircraft Parts Physical Description Tail skid for Curtiss R3C-1 landplane configuration Skid is 34 7/8” long from wooden nose to the extreme tip of the steel “shoe” Dimensions skid is 34 7/8” long from wooden nose to the extreme tip of the steel “shoe”
 Materials Wood, metal
 Inventory Number A19280002003 Credit Line Transferred from the U.S. War Department Data Source National Air and Space Museum Restrictions & Rights Usage conditions apply
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