The three evaluation models arrived in May of 1940. It proved something of an omen for the seires when all four of the early acquired birds (prototype included) were lost in crashes. The twenty-seven-strong order never materialized for the Japanese expansion soon neutralized the expected production facility. As such, the CW-21 Demon was not used in anger by the Chinese during their war with Japan.
Despite the setback, Curtiss-Wright continued development of their product. Changes to the undercarriage (now recessing flush with the wing line) and flaps (now hydraulically-operated) followed which produced a slightly heavier airframe with a decreased rate-of-climb but still managing approximately the same maximum speed (314mph). The original Wright powerplant was retained and armament was 4 x 0.30 caliber medium machine guns. There proved enough changes to the design to warrant the variant designation of "CW-21B".
Twenty-four of the B-models were sold to the Netherlands Army in April 1940. However, the nation capitulated to Germany the following month and this forced the order to the Dutch East Indies instead. While managing to score a few kills against the Japanese, the CW-21Bs proved fodder for the more skilled and battle-hardened Japanese aviators. The lack of self-sealing fuel tanks led to airframes catching fire or exploding outright when hit and no cockpit armoring exposed the pilot to lethal dangers. Standard light armament meant that the aircraft could do little against heavier Japanese designs and the airframes were fragile with some aircraft grounded due to fractures. The only category the CW-21B shined in was rate-of-climb - but this proved of little value to the faltering Dutch forces. The aircraft was also remembered for its terrible landing qualities - partially due to the long nose assembly.
Such was the reign of the CW-21 that only 62 total examples emerged in all (including B-models). A two-seat version was revealed by Curtiss-Wright as the CW-22 in time and this aircraft, again, managed a limited armament arrangement of 1 x 0.30 in a fixed, forward-firing position with a 0.30 gun on a trainable mount in the rear cockpit. The cockpits both sat under a long, greenhouse -style canopy with generally good views.
Netherlands became the primary customer of the CW-22 but these were also rerouted to the Dutch East Indies when Netherlands fell to the Germans. Thirty-six were ordered by the country and, when Japanese expansion forced it, the examples were delivered to Australian soil in the end. The United States Army eventually took up use of the CW-22 through twelve examples. The United States Nav operated a few as the SNC-1 "Falcon" trainer. Some additional seventy-five CW-22 airframes were built and these delivered to Turkey (as the CW-22B) and a select few Central American countries.
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