Curtiss F8C-5 Helldiver

F8C-5 was ordered as a slightly modified variant of the Helldiveru, originally intended also as a on-board two-seater fighter aircraft. The main change was the use of Curtissova the annular motor casing, although this was additionally added to many F8C-4. Problems which occurred during the deployment of the F8C-4 in the squadron VF-1Bmainly the lack of speed (at the same time produced F4B-2 should a cruising speed of 254 km/h), but led to the fact that of the twenty already under construction machinery has been withdrawn the equipment for operation on aircraft carriers, and the remaining machines were from the beginning built as a ground. Allocated were as usual the marines, where they served as reconnaissance aircraft capable of dive bombing, and to add the already used OC-2. In this role, have also been renamed, the O2C-1, and the other thirty machines were as O2C-1 additional ordered. The marine corps was at this time forced by budget problems to limit foreign missions, Helldivery therefore probably perhaps in addition to a brief stay in Nicaragua, have not undergone combat deployment, in a wide range of roles but served more in 1937.

The first two machines, A8446/47, were used by the Curtiss Engineering, Curtissovy branches in Garden City, to tests of flaps and the edge flaps, Frise, and perhaps also get turbokopresory. Flaps equipped the Helldiver with the original engine retained the same maximum speed, landing speed but decreased by 16 km/h to 80 km/h and service ceiling rose to 6096 m. Improved also control, and although the Helldiverech already used not, on the following types of these adjustments have become standard. After a period of tests have been identified as XF8C-6, then were in the original form returned to service.

In addition to the air force the marine corps with the O2C-1 were also given to air advance the navy, and the machine one of them this type of famous most. In 1933 they managed to shoot down a giant monkey from a skyscraper. Representatives of the company RKO asked in December 1932 the navy, to they lent to the several Helldiverů for the filming of the aerial scenes in the film. The navy refused, therefore, the company asked directly to the commander of the new york NRAB Floyd Bennett Field, make a small donation had four machines flying around the Empire State Building. The commander, who on the previous rejection didn't agree, the scenes were for a movie filmed without anyone from the base knew that they used in King Kong. It should be noted that most of the shots in the film is not on the Helldivery, but on the models (only those occurring in the scenes at the same time with King Kong) and a group of other two-seat machines, probably the Vought O2U Corsair from the archives of the company RKO. For the remake of King Kong of 2005 was even built flightless mockup, which of course carries a more attractive coloring sea F8C-4 from fighter squadron VF-1B. As in the original film, here, he shoots from a fixed synchronized machine guns in front of the pilot - but no Helldiver never had..