Curtiss R3C Racer, 1925

The Curtis R3C was designed to raced in two configurations, on wheels (R3C-1) and on floats (R3C-2). Above, pilot James (Jimmy) H. Doolittle with his R3C-2, winners of the 1925 Schneider Cup race held in Baltimore Maryland that year.

 Below, a week earlier after winning the Pulitzer race, the same airplane in R3C-1 form with pilot Lt. Cyrus Bettis. 
 On a 100km course he also piloted the plane to 249.342 mph, a new world speed record. The plane was tiny, 20 feet long with a 20 foot wingspan and weighed under 2200 lb. The watercooled V12 produced over 600 hp. The airplane is still around, on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C.

US Air Force Photo