Like most of us, I spent my childhood
drooling over ads for toy airplanes I knew
I'd never own.
  When I was twelve I read
a biography of Lincoln Beachey, but
somehow I managed to stay unaware
of the Cox Curtiss Pusher until I was
given this one yesterday.

  The engine is frozen and the top wing
has a few cracks but it's flyable.

Has anyone flown one of these?

Cheers! - K.

  

  I have heard of them flying with larger engines installed, but have seen no proof. I have one that hangs in my basement. The pilot figure is filled with enough lead for balance that I think that alone would make it over weight for a Baby Bee. Since I have seen your other efforts at replica Cox models, I have been thinking about doing a replica Curtis Pusher using CorePlast for the wings and hobby shop plastic for the frame work, or even spruce for the frame. I think it would have a chance at coming out lighter than the original and maybe fly decent. Might get to that this summer.
  Type at you later,
  Dan McEntee

 That is very cool, rare, and yes, would probably bring a nice chunk of change on Ebay. It ain't all about the money all the time though, I'd preserve it just as is and hang it proudly on the wall.

I got some pictures of the real one in a museum.  It had a 500 cubic inch V8 and unlike the Wright Flyer, could take off easily.

A virgin Cox Curtiss Pusher is a priceless keeper.  But considering the condition of yours, I would fly it.  One problem, Cox reedies don't like to run well as pushers.  The crankshaft can push back into the reed valve.  So make sure there isn't much end play.

I have couple of already-flown Little Stinkers.  I will fly them if I get a PeeWee to run well.

I would suggest going through your collection of Black Widows and Super Bees and find a healthy one for test fight.  Be sure to position the fuel pickup for the way the engine is in the plane.

Also, ALL Cox plastics had negative tip weight as sold.  A 1/4 ounce does wonders. 

When we did the PT-19 training session we used up a lot of modeling clay.

If it was mine I would fly it. If you do fly it please video the flight. I have always wanted one of these and would love to see one in the air.

I should have come up with $50 to buy two Cox Piper Comanches when they sold for $25 each.   
They would bring in $10,000 today.

Hey Paul!
              If you'd bought those Comanches
and got the $10,000.00 you would have just
SQUANDERED it on toy airplanes anyway.

  You're tough enough to compete against even
without richer financing.

:-P        -K.

Thanks Guys,
                   I'll probably just dust it and hang it up.

     What is the consensus about putting the engine
into running condition? Clean it or leave it "Barn Fresh"?

 I'd just leave it alone and hang it on the wall Goog, really.

 It actually looks really nice for the age. Think about it Goog, it's made it this far and is in decent condition, I wouldn't risk any damage and/or cause any more deterioration, especially to the decals and such. Keep in mind that if you try to fly it you're going to get fuel and castor residue all over it. In case your really wondering, it most likely flies like a crappy old overweight plastic model and then drops like a rock when the engine quits. Save it, enjoy it just as is, and be happy.

Gooz,

I built your PT-19 trainers from the plans, but I guess I didn't understand/see your post about "archive" PT-19 drawings.  But if you can measure the Pusher you have and post the dimensions, I DO have two sheets of SIG 4" airfoil balsa that are not currently doing anything...

Mark

Hello Mark,
                I sure hope the Plastic Trainer -19
is working for you.

   If you want, send me a PM and I'll measure
the Curtiss, but you'll need to do a lot of interpreting.

   I've been studying my Curtiss pusher reference,
and the Cox model is a very loose version of
a "headless" Model E. 
  The type on the top wing should actually say
"BEACHEY".  Lincoln Beachey invented the headless
configuration by hitting a fence.  He had a paid
contract for a demonstration flight, so he flew anyway.
Even the Wright Brothers thought it was a good idea
and produced the "Wright Headless Baby".

  There are a lot of things that will be problematic
if you build a Cox replica..  The wing to upright strut
connections will need some serious thought. Cox
just molded a socket into the wing edges and plugged
in plastic sticks. That would be hard to replicate
with Balsa.
  I suspect that Cox may have had trouble getting
the Curtiss to behave. The configuration of the tail is
very different from any real Curtiss that I can find
and the Cox design is much more complicated than
basic mechanics require.

  I'm thinking that what I need to do is draw an
archive drawing of the Cox and let people make
their own decisions.
I think it's dishonest to present a design online
that isn't fully flight tested so that will need to
wait until later.

Cheers! - K.