Curtiss Hawk Pitot head wanted

[coldkiwi1]

I am looking for a Pitot head for my Curtiss Hawk 75 project. It is the stepped type of head - Kollsman 1079 as shown in attached photo.

Same type was used on Canadian Harvards , Australian Wirraway and Boomerang. Any leads appreciated. Thanks.


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[warbird1]

O.K., since you brought it up, you have to tell us! What Curtis Hawk 75 project?

[hang the expense]

I recognize that hand!Welcome to the WIX.

[coldkiwi1]

The project is Curtiss Hawk 75 A-6. Originally sold to Norway, captured by the Germans, Sold to Finland and operated as CU554. Crashed in Russia following damage by ground fire. I purchased it several years ago following recovery by a Russian group. Now under airworthy rebuild in New Zealand.

The aircraft has about 10 aerial victories over Russian aircraft whilst in Finnish service. Some are mentioned in the book " P36 hawk aces of World War Two" by Osprey.

[Wheels up]

That's heated....so what voltage are we looking for? I assume 24-28V?

[ZRX61]

Same type was used on Canadian Harvards , Australian Wirraway and Boomerang. Any leads appreciated. Thanks.

Maybe the earlier Harvards, I just did an engine swap on a MkIV & it didn't have that type. I guess it may have been changed tho.

[rcaf_100]

Maybe the earlier Harvards, I just did an engine swap on a MkIV & it didn't have that type. I guess it may have been changed tho.

Yep, it was just the Mk I's, Mk II's (as built) and Yales as well. I believe the straight pitot was fitted to the majority of Noorduyn-built Harvard IIB's and AT-16's, however I have seen a shot of 3034 (the first IIB) with the stepped pitot. It also appears some NAA-built Harvard II's were converted to the straight pitot during the war, but probably just as replacement due to damage. When some Mk II's were rebuilt as Mk IIA (or 2A) armament trainers postwar, the pitot was usually changed as well. Mk 4's (not Mk IV ) were fitted with the straight pitot from the factory.

coldkiwi1,
Sorry, I don't have any leads but I wish you luck in your search, and welcome to WIX!

[coldkiwi1]

The head is heated and either a 12V or 24 V will be fine although 24V ispreferred.

Regarding Harvards, it appears that the RNZAF MkII Harvards had this style of pitot head installed also.

I have spare P40 parts available to trade for a pitot head if required.

[Jay]

Try Warbird-parts.com. Jay Wisler has 6 or 8 in new condition.
Jaybo

[ZRX61]

Mk 4's (not Mk IV )

I beg to differ.....

[rcaf_100]

Mk 4's (not Mk IV )

I beg to differ.....

It's still Mk 4. The RAF/RCAF changed their numbering system from roman numerals to arabic around 1950, two years before Mk 4 production began. It's a very common mistake for those not familiar with the Harvard lineage. The only place in RCAF books they are referred to as the Mk IV is in the pilot's manual, and that was a printing error.

Also, Hawker Siddeley never built Harvards. CC&F was absorbed into Avro Canada in 1955ish, which itself was a part of the Hawker Siddeley Group. The only Harvards built after the Avro takeover were six for export to Egypt in 1956. When the Mk 4's were disposed of by the RCAF in the mid-sixties, Hawker Siddeley had the design rights (since Avro Canada had already gone out of business), so many early civilian Harvard Mk 4's were registered as 'Hawker Siddeley Harvards'. One of which was ex-20321 CF-UFZ, one of the seven Harvards I work on in my spare time. This misregistration has been carried on to this day, such as in the FAA registration of your Harvard, N77398.

If you're still unsure between Mk 4 and Mk IV, contact WIXer MacHarvard. He co-wrote the book Harvard! The North American Trainers in Canada, so he will be able to help you out.

Anyway, enough about Harvards. Let's get back to looking for that pitot tube!

[ZRX61]

Anyway, enough about Harvards. Let's get back to looking for that pitot tube!

One small comment:
The other day I was at the local model shop looking for a drop or 2 of green touch up paint for the tubes etc... Nothing in the aircraft section, then I found the perrfect match under Railroads. It turned out to be a Canadian railroad color...

& it's not actually mine, I just hung a new engine on it.

& back to Pitot tubes: I'll have a poke about the hangar on Monday

Last edited by ZRX61 on Sat Jul 11, 2009 9:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[rcaf_100]

One small comment:
The other day I was at the local model shop looking for a drop or 2 of green touch up paint for the tubes etc... Nothing in the aircraft section, then I found the perrfect match under Railroads. It turned out to be a Canadian railroad color...

That wouldn't be CN Green #11, would it? Model trains is one of my other hobbies, and I actually work for CP (although not right now )

[mike furline]

The project is Curtiss Hawk 75 A-6. Originally sold to Norway, captured by the Germans, Sold to Finland and operated as CU554. Crashed in Russia following damage by ground fire. I purchased it several years ago following recovery by a Russian group. Now under airworthy rebuild in New Zealand.

The aircraft has about 10 aerial victories over Russian aircraft whilst in Finnish service. Some are mentioned in the book " P36 hawk aces of World War Two" by Osprey.

You may be interested in this book,
http://www.kolumbus.fi/kari.stenman/sih05.html

http://www.kolumbus.fi/kari.stenman/index1.html

Regards,
Mike

[ZRX61]

That wouldn't be CN Green #11, would it? Model trains is one of my other hobbies, and I actually work for CP (although not right now )

Not sure, it's down at the hangar, I'll check on Monday