DAN SHUMAKER COLLECTION
No. 14328. Lawson MT-2
Source unknown

Lawson MT-2

12/31/2024. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "After the MT-1 was rejected by the USASC, Alfred Lawson completely revised the MT-1. The configuration remained the same, as did the powerplant, but its span was reduced from 45 ft 0 in (13.72 m) to 39 ft 0 in (11.89 m) and the length from 27 ft 0 in (8.23 m) to 25 ft 0 in (8.23 m).

Designated MT-2, the aircraft was first flown by George Puffles on May 2, 1918, and eventually reached a top speed of 90 mph (145 kmh), 12 mph (19 kmh) faster than the MT-1. The US Army Air Service (as the USASC was renamed on May 24, 1918) was satisfied about the increased performance and ordered 100 MT-2s, unfortunately, soon after the Armistice on November 11, 1918, the order was cancelled.

The sole MT-2 survived until 1931. It was destroyed, when an inexperienced 17-year-old pilot crashed it at New Sweden, Maine, the pilot was unhurt."


Created December 31, 2024