Curtiss F6C Hawk
{{for|the Honda motorcycle called F6C in Europe|Honda Valkyrie}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = F6C Hawk
|image =Curtiss F6C-1.jpg
|caption = Curtiss F6C-1 - Model 34
|type = Carrier-borne or land-based fighter
|manufacturer = Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
|designer =
|first_flight =
|introduction = 1925
|retired =
|status =
|primary_user = United States Navy
|more_users = United States Marine Corps
|produced = 1927
|number_built = 75
|unit cost =
|variants =
}}
The Curtiss F6C Hawk is 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.
Originally designed for land-based use, the Model 34C was virtually identical to the P-1 Hawk in United States Army Air Corps service. The United States Navy ordered nine, but starting with the sixth example, they were strengthened for carrier-borne operations and redesignated Model 34D. Flown from the carriers {{USS|Langley|CV-1|2}} and {{USS|Lexington|CV-2|2}} from 1927–30, most of the later variants passed to Marine fighter-bomber units, while a few were flown for a time as twin-float floatplanes.
Operators
- {{USA}}
- 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 {{USS|Langley|CV-1|2}}
- VF-5S, later renamed VF-1B (US Navy) along with VF-8M (US Marines) operated 35 Model 34E, F6C-3 from {{USS|Lexington|CV-2|2}}
- VF-2B (US Navy) operated 31 Model 34H, F6C-4 from Langley
Variants
File:Curtiss F6C 1926 Schneider Trophy.jpg
- 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 {{convert|525|hp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}}.
- 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.{{cite web|last1=Pearce|first1=William|title=Curtiss XF6C-6 Navy Racer|url=https://oldmachinepress.com/2015/02/24/curtiss-xf6c-6-page-navy-racer/|website=oldmachinepress.com|date=25 February 2015 |access-date=17 May 2016}}
- XF6C-7 Model 34H testbed for an experimental {{convert|350|hp|kW|abbr=on}} Ranger SGV-770C-1 air-cooled inverted Vee engine.
Specifications (F6C-4)
File:Curtiss_F6C-4_3-view_L'Aéronautique_October,1927.png
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=United States Navy Aircraft since 1911Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p. 130.
|prime units?=imp
|crew=1
|length ft=22
|length in=6
|length note=
|span ft=37
|span in=6
|span note=
|height ft=10
|height in=11
|height note=
|wing area sqft=252
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|empty weight lb=1980
|empty weight note=
|gross weight lb=
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight lb=3171
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 hp=410
|prop blade number=2
|prop name=metal propeller
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed mph=155
|max speed note=at sea level
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|range miles=360
|range note=
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=
|ceiling ft=22900
|ceiling note=
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|5000|ft}} in 2 minutes 30 seconds
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
|guns=2 × fixed {{convert|.30|in|mm|2|abbr=on}} Browning machine guns in the forward fuselage
}}
See also
References
{{commons category|Curtiss F6C Hawk}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Refbegin}}
- Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng. The complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London:Amber Books, 2002.
- Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft since 1911. London:Putnam, Second edition, 1976. {{ISBN|0-370-10054-9}}.
{{Refend}}
{{Curtiss aircraft}}
{{USN fighters}}