Known by the men who flew it as “The Beast”, the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was nearly 37 feet long with a wingspan approaching 50 feet. Powered by a 1900 hp Wright engine, the plane was considered under- powered and suffered many teething problems. It eventually earned the grudging respect of Navy and Marine pilots for its ruggedness and its ability to survive high-g, steep and fast dives. Over 7100 SB2Cs were made during WWII. Originally printed by the U.S. Navy, this Flight Operating Handbook taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified “Restricted”, the manual was declassified and is here reprinted in book form. Also included, "Man and Beast" — pilot's notes for this famously hard-to-fly plane. This affordable 8.5x11, 130 page facsimile has been slightly reformatted. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text. |