1930 Curtiss Robin 4C-1A

The Curtiss Robin was introduced in 1928 and was a high-wing monoplane with a 90 hp V8 OX-5 8-cylinder engine. Later, it was fitted with the more powerful Challenger engine that developed between 170 and 185 hp and was designated model C-1

The airplane had a workmanlike cabin with a single wooden wing and a steel-tubing fuselage. The cabin accommodated two or three passengers seated side-by-side behind the pilot. Early Robins had large flat fairings over the parallel diagonal wing bracing struts, but these were abandoned on later versions because they were ineffective at creating lift. The original landing gear was bungee rubber cord shock absorbers, later replaced by a pneumatic system. Some Robins had twin floats added.

The payload with full 50-gallon tanks of fuel (25 gallons in each wing) was 452 lb. Cruising speed: 102 mph. Landing speed: 48 mph. The original factory price was $7,500.

One specially equipped Curtiss Robin “St. Louis” broke the endurance flight record during a 1929 flight from July 13-30 at St. Louis, Missouri. It was flown by Dale Jackson and Forest O’Brien for 17 days, 12 hours, 17 minutes, and the record held for 62 years.

This Model: Robin 4C-1A Four-seat version with an enlarged forward fuselage section; is 1 of the only 11 ever built. It was donated to the museum in May 2026 by its owner, Elizabeth Nichols. She and her late husband “Red” purchased the aircraft a number of years ago and flew it regularly until the time of his death in the mid 80’s. After his death, the plane sat idle in the hangar, and Mrs Nichols did not particularly want to sell the aircraft. In 1993, members of the museum approached her about placing the Robin here on loan, and she was delighted with the idea and thought our museum would be a wonderful place for all to see this magnificent airplane.

As a symbol of his last name, Red used the buffalo nickel as his moniker and had two giant nickel plaques made to go on Robin’s engine cowling.