(Curtiss) F6C Hawk @·AIRCRAFTUBE

  • A Curtiss F6C Hawk, circa 1930 A Curtiss F6C Hawk, circa 1930
    A Curtiss F6C Hawk, circa 1930
  • The Three Flying Fish aerobatic team of 1933 The Three Flying Fish aerobatic team of 1933
    The Three Flying Fish aerobatic team of 1933
  • Curtiss F6C (Lt. Al Williams, of USN) Curtiss F6C (Lt. Al Williams, of USN)
    Curtiss F6C (Lt. Al Williams, of USN)
  • Curtiss F6C-1 (A-6972 of VF-2) Curtiss F6C-1 (A-6972 of VF-2)
    Curtiss F6C-1 (A-6972 of VF-2)
  • Curtiss F6C-1 (Model 34) Curtiss F6C-1 (Model 34)
    Curtiss F6C-1 (Model 34)
  • Curtiss F6C-2 Curtiss F6C-2
    Curtiss F6C-2
  • Curtiss F6C-3 Curtiss F6C-3
    Curtiss F6C-3
  • Curtiss F6C-4 Curtiss F6C-4
    Curtiss F6C-4
  • A Curtiss F6C-4 Hawk at Pensacola, circa 1929 A Curtiss F6C-4 Hawk at Pensacola, circa 1929
    A Curtiss F6C-4 Hawk at Pensacola, circa 1929
  • A Curtiss F6C-1 of VF-5B A Curtiss F6C-1 of VF-5B
    A Curtiss F6C-1 of VF-5B
  • Curtiss F6C-4 Hawks (1931) Curtiss F6C-4 Hawks (1931)
    Curtiss F6C-4 Hawks (1931)
  • Curtiss F6C-4 (NACA - 1926) Curtiss F6C-4 (NACA - 1926)
    Curtiss F6C-4 (NACA - 1926)
  • The F6C-6 of the 1926 Schneider Trophy The F6C-6 of the 1926 Schneider Trophy
    The F6C-6 of the 1926 Schneider Trophy
  • Curtiss F6Cs at Pensacola, circa 1929 Curtiss F6Cs at Pensacola, circa 1929
    Curtiss F6Cs at Pensacola, circa 1929
  • The Curtiss XF6C-6 The Curtiss XF6C-6
    The Curtiss XF6C-6

Curtiss F6C Hawk

The Curtiss F6C Hawk was a late 1920s American naval biplane fighter aircraft. It was part of the long line of Curtiss Hawk airplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company for the American military.

Design

In 1925, the US Navy, in search of an on-board fighter, turned towards two aircraft manufacturers, Boeing and Curtiss. Their mission was to quickly provide modern and efficient fighters. The first company decided to design a completely new aircraft, the FB, and Curtiss decided to modify an existing model for naval operations, the P-1. Nine aircraft were taken from the US Army Air Corps and supplied to the US Navy, which put them into service with the United States Marine Corps VF-9M squadron. They were officially designated as F6C-1 Hawks.

If the first five planes remained "terrestrial", that is to say, not suitable for aircraft carrier operations, it was different from the following four who hastily received some modifications, notably a reinforcement of the landing gear and an arresting hook. They were renamed F6C-2. Sea trials were conducted on USS Langley within the VF-2 Squadron. These were so conclusive that the US Navy ordered Curtiss a batch of 35 completely new designated F6C-3s that were very similar to the previous ones. They were quickly integrated into several US Navy units called to serve in VF-5S Squadron aboard USS Lexington and the VF-8M Marines squadron onshore.

However the Curtiss D-12 engine did not bring full satisfaction and in 1927 a new batch of 31 aircraft was ordered on behalf of the US Marines Corps but powered by a 410 hp Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engine. They were designated F6C-4 and assigned to VF-2B squadron on USS Langley. However, these planes never really pleased the Marines, and it was not until the arrival of the Curtiss F7C Seahawk that they were satisfied.

Operations

While none of these aircraft knew fire, they were among the first combat aircraft to fly from US aircraft carriers. Alongside the Boeing FBs, they allowed US Navy pilots to familiarise with carrier operations. The F6C left front line active duty in 1930 but remained in reserve for another two years. Two other versions were studied but without leading to any series production.

As a racing seaplane

In 1926 the presentation team of the US Navy, who participated in the Schneider Cup had the idea to transform a F6C-3 floatplane to use as a training machine. Indeed it was technically quite close to the R3C-3 used for the race. However after the accident of the latter, the F6C-3 became the only racer that the Americans could present. The aircraft received the designation F6C-6. Technically far inferior to its competitors, it finished fourth, far behind the top three and especially the Italian Macchi M.39 who won the cup that year. Subsequently the F6C-6 was used for training of racing pilots until 1931.

As a racing land plane

The F6C-6 that won the 1930 Curtiss Marine Trophy was specially modified, equipped and developed for the competition. Renamed XF6C-6, it was transformed into a high-wing monoplane with surface radiators in the wings. It was piloted by Commander Arthur H. Page of the Marine Corps at the Thompson Trophy in 1930. His sleek lines were accentuated by an elongated and streamlined wheel fairing, and was the star of the US National Air Races in September 1930. From the start, Page took the lead of the race which included 20 laps. After winning the fastest lap he increased his lead until the seventeenth lap where he crashed to the ground, victim of carbon monoxide poisoning.

The "Three Flying Fish" aerial demonstration team

The team was founded in the spring of 1930 by the direction of Admiral William A. Moffett. The pilots came from the Naval Flight Test Group at Naval Air Station Anacostia, Washington D.C., one pilot had already flown for the "Three Sea Hawks". The team flew the Curtiss F6C-4 Hawk and performed mostly on the US East Coast. The team was already disbanded on 15 April 1931.

Variants

  • F6C-1 Model 34C virtually identical to the P-1 series.
  • F6C-2 Model 34D strengthened for carrierborne operations and fitted with arrester hooks.
  • F6C-3 Model 34E modified version of the F6C-2.
  • XF6C-4 Model 34H prototype F6C-1 with a Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engine.
  • F6C-4 Model 34H production version of the XF6C-4.
  • XF6C-5 Model 34H prototype F6C-1 with a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial of 525 hp (391 kW).
  • F6C-6 Model 34E modified for racing, with its radiator located inside the fuselage.
  • XF6C-6 Model 34E the F6C-6 which had won the 1930 Curtiss Marine Trophy was converted to parasol-wing monoplane configuration and given wing surface radiators; after achieving the fastest lap in the 1930 Thompson Trophy race the XF6C-6 crashed when its pilot was overcome by fumes.
  • XF6C-7 Model 34H testbed for an experimental 350 hp (260 kW) Ranger SGV-770C-1 air-cooled inverted Vee engine.

Operators

  • VF-9M (US Marines) operated 5 Model 34C, F6C-1 and XF6C-4 from land bases.
  • VF-2 (US Navy) operated 4 Model 34D, F6C-2 from Langley.
  • VF-5S, later renamed VF-1B (US Navy) along with VF-8M (US Marines) operated 35 Model 34E, F6C-3 from Lexington.
  • VF-2B (US Navy) operated 31 Model 34H, F6C-4 from Langley.

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Curtiss F6C Hawk

  • Role: Carrierborne Fighter & Land-based Fighter.
  • Manufacturer: Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company.
  • Introduction: 1925.
  • Primary users :
    • United States Navy.
    • United States Marine Corps.
  • Produced: 1927.
  • Number built: 75.

    • Specifications (F6C-4)

  • Crew: 1.
  • Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.86 m).
  • Height: 10 ft 11 in (3.33 m).
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 6 in (11.43 m).
  • Wing area: 252 ft² (23.42 m²).
  • Empty weight: 1,980 lb (900 kg).
  • Max. takeoff weight: 3,171 lb (1,441 kg).
  • Maximum speed: 155 mph (134 knots, 250 km/h) at sea level.
  • Range: 360 mi (313 nmi, 580 km).
  • Service ceiling: 22,900 ft (6,980 m).
  • Climb to 5,000 ft (1,520 m): 2.5 min.
  • Powerplant: One Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp 9-cylinder air-cooled radial engine.
  • Power: 410 hp (306 kW).
  • Armament : Two fixed .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns in the forward fuselage.

— — — = = — — —

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