Airplanes and Rockets' history & copyright Google search American Modeler Air Trails American Aircraft Modeler Young Men Hobbies Aviation Flying Aces Saturday Evening Post Boys' Life Hobby Distributors Amateur Astronomy Engines & Motors Balsa Densities Silkspan Covering Comics Electronics My Models Model Aircraft Articles Plans Model Boat Articles Plans Model Car Articles Plans Model Train Articles Plans 1941 Crosley 03CB Radio Model helicopter articles & plans Crosswords Model Rocket Articles Plans Restoration Projects Photos Peanuts Collection Model Aircraft Articles Plans Sitemap Homepage Hints and Kinks Amateur Radio Archives of the homepage R/C Modeler Electronics About Airpleans and Rockest, Disclaimer, Terms of Use Model Topics Please Donate to Airplanes and Rockets Parole Plaza, Annapolis, Maryland Hobby Items for Sale Airplanes and Rockets Hero Graphic
Model Aircraft Museum, AMA - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics Government Advocacy Coalition - Airplanes and Rockets

Curtiss A-3B Falcon Article & Plans
March 1968 American Aircraft Modeler

March 1968 American Aircraft Modeler

March 1969 American Aircraft Modeler Cover - Airplanes and Rockets Table of Contents

These pages from vintage modeling magazines like Flying Aces, Air Trails, American Modeler, American Aircraft Modeler, Young Men, Flying Models, Model Airplane News, R/C Modeler, captured the era. All copyrights acknowledged.

Here are plans for the Curtiss A-3B Falcon that I electronically scanned from my purchased copy of the March 1968 American Aircraft Modeler magazine. You might be able to scale up the images below if suitable plans cannot be located. Plans for this fine model were drawn by Mr. Paul R. Matt. All copyrights (if any) are hereby acknowledged.

"The Curtiss Falcon is a family of military biplane aircraft built by the United States aircraft manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company during the 1920s. Most saw service as part of the United States Army Air Corps as observation aircraft with the designations O-1 and O-11, or as the attack aircraft designated the A-3 Falcon." - Wikipedia

Curtiss A-3B Falcon

Jack of all trades - master of a few - sums up the Falcon aircraft series.

by Paul Matt

Born and bred at the Garden City facilities of the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Co. in 1924 and later produced at Buffalo, the Falcon sired many offspring. A number of attempts were made to lump the Falcon series together as one with each used in different ways. This is unfair to the historical significance of the basic design. Despite the many variations and uses for which the Falcons were submitted and the strong family resemblance, each type was different and each had its own personality. We cannot delve into the entire Falcon line within this limited space. However, we can touch upon the development of the A-3 Attack models.

Between 1924 and 1926 the Army Air Corps, for the first time, started a systematic categorizing of its aircraft - thus the A-Attack, B-Bombardment, C-Cargo, O-Observation, P-Pursuit, etc. designations. An extended program was undertaken to secure new aircraft to fill these definite requirements. Prior to this, there were numerous unrelated designations with an equal number of aircraft serving various purposes unsuccessfully.

In the fall of 1924 the Air Corps held several open competitions for new air-craft. Among them were the requirements for a two-place observation aircraft to replace the weary DH-4Bs. Private industry welcomed this opportunity to produce their own designs, unhampered by McCook Field Ordnance and Engineering Department specifications. Basic requirements were set forth. Certain military goals had to be met, but the industry had a more liberal hand in the final concept. The only stringent stipulation seemed rather ridiculous from the engineers' point of view; the power plant had to be the Liberty 12 engine of WWI vintage. This was an economy move by the military.

Eleven manufacturers competed at McCook Field. Each product was assigned

 

Curtiss A-3B Falcon Plans from March 1968 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and Rockets

 

 

Curtiss A-3B Falcon Plans from March 1968 American Aircraft Modeler - Airplanes and Rockets

Notice:

The AMA Plans Service offers a full-size version of many of the plans show here at a very reasonable cost. They will scale the plans any size for you. It is always best to buy printed plans because my scanner versions often have distortions that can cause parts to fit poorly. Purchasing plans also help to support the operation of the Academy of Model Aeronautics - the #1 advocate for model aviation throughout the world. If the AMA no longer has this plan on file, I will be glad to send you my higher resolution version.

Try my Scale Calculator for Model Airplane Plans.

Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) Plans Service - Airplanes and Rockets

About Airplanes & Rockets 

Kirt Blattenberger, Webmaster - Airplanes and RocketsKirt Blattenberger

Carpe Diem! (Seize the Day!)

Even during the busiest times of my life I have endeavored to maintain some form of model building activity. This site has been created to help me chronicle my journey through a lifelong involvement in model aviation, which all began in Mayo, MD ...

Copyright  1996 - 2026
All trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other rights of ownership to images and text used on the Airplanes and Rockets website are hereby acknowledged.

Homepage Archives  |  Modeling News Archives

Webmaster:

Kirt Blattenberger

BSEE - KB3UON

Family Websites:

RF Cafe

Equine Kingdom





Academy of Model Aeronautics (AMA) - Airplanes and Rockets

Academy of Model Aeronautics

Tower Hobbies logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Tower Hobbies

Horizon Hobby logo - Airplanes and Rockets

Horizon Hobby

Sig Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Sig Mfg

Brodak Manufacturing - Airplanes and Rockets

Brodak Mfg