Curtiss F11C Goshawk: Difference between revisions
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:export version of XF11C-2, 126 built including 32 as floatplanes (for Bolivia, Chile, China, Columbia, Cuba, Germany, Norway, Thailand and Turkey) |
:export version of XF11C-2, 126 built including 32 as floatplanes (for Bolivia, Chile, China, Columbia, Cuba, Germany, Norway, Thailand and Turkey) |
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;Hawk III |
;Hawk III |
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:export version of BFC-2 with an 770hp R-1820-F53 engine for China |
:export version of BFC-2 with an 770hp R-1820-F53 engine for China |
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;Hawk IV (Model 79) |
;Hawk IV (Model 79) |
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:export version with an 790hp R-1820-F56 engine for China, 125 Hawk IIIs and IVs built. |
:export version with an 790hp R-1820-F56 engine for China, 125 Hawk IIIs and IVs built. |
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*Two aircraft were bought by Germany for [[Ernst Udet]] personal use. |
*Two aircraft were bought by Germany for [[Ernst Udet]] personal use. |
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;{{NOR}} |
;{{NOR}} |
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;{{THA}} |
;{{THA}} |
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* The Royal Thai Air Force (Siam) operated 37 Hawk III aircraft and a squadron of Hawk II variants |
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;{{flag|United States|1912}} |
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*[http://www.brushfirewars.org/aircraft/curtiss_hawk_ii_bolivian/curtiss_hawk_ii_bolivian.htm Bolivian Curtiss Hawk II] |
*[http://www.brushfirewars.org/aircraft/curtiss_hawk_ii_bolivian/curtiss_hawk_ii_bolivian.htm Bolivian Curtiss Hawk II] |
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*[http://www.airminded.net/goshawk/goshawkad.html Curtiss Goshawk Marketing Brochure] |
*[http://www.airminded.net/goshawk/goshawkad.html Curtiss Goshawk Marketing Brochure] |
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*[http://thaiaviation.com/gallery2/v/RTAF/Curtiss+Hawk+III.html Photos of the only surviving Curtiss Hawk III] |
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Revision as of 08:54, 24 October 2007
- For other uses of Goshawk, see Goshawk (disambiguation)
The Curtiss F11C Goshawk was a 1930s naval biplane that saw limited success but was part of a long line of Curtiss Hawk airplanes built by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company for the American military. See Images.
Design and development
In April 1932 when Curtiss was planning the Model 35B, the US Navy contracted with the manufacturer for an improved derivative of the Model 34C, F6C as the F11C. It contained major changes that included the 600 hp (447-kVV) Wright R-1510-98 engine, single leg cantilever main landing-gear units, a slight increase in the interplane gap, metal rather than fabric-covered control surfaces, and armament based on two 0.3-in (7.62- mm) fixed forward-firing machine guns supplemented by a hardpoint under the fuselage for the carriage of a 474-lb (215-kg) bomb, or an auxiliary fuel tank. Curtiss designed the type as the Model 64 Goshawk, with the US Navy designation XF11C-1 (later XBFC-1 after the adoption of the BF for Bomber-Fighter category). The aircraft was of fabric-covered metal construction, used the wing cell structure of the dismantled YP-23, and was delivered in September 1932[1].
Shortly before ordering the XF11C-1, the Navy had bought a company-owned Model 64A demonstrator. This had a Wright R-1820-78 Cyclone engine, slightly longer main landing-gear legs carrying wheels with low-pressure tires, a tailwheel in place of the tailskid, fabric-covered control surfaces on the tail, and external provision for underwing racks for light bombs as well as an under-fuselage hardpoint for either a 50 US gal (189 L) fuel tank or the crutch that would swing a bomb clear of the propeller disc before release in a dive-bombing attack[1].
Flight trials of this XF11C-2 (later redesignated as the XBFC-2) revealed the need for a small number of minor changes. After making the changes, the XF11C-2 came to be regarded as the prototype for the F11C-2, of which 28 examples were ordered as dual-role fighter-bombers in October 1932[1].
From March 1934 the aircraft were revised with a semi-enclosed cockpit and a number of other modifications before they received the revised designation BFC-2 in recognition of their fighter-bomber or, as the Navy would have it, bomber-fighter role[1].
Operational History
The only units to operate the the F11C-2 were the Navy's famous "High Hat Squadron", VF-1B, aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3), and VB-6 briefly assigned to USS Enterprise (CV-6). In March 1943 when the aircraft were redesignated BFC-2 the "High Hat Squadron" squadron was renumbered VB-2B, and then VB-3B, and retained its BFC-2s until February 1938. VB-6 never actually embarked on the Enterprise with the BFC bombers[2].
Variants
- XF11C-1 (Model 64)
- First prototype derived from the Curtis F6C Hawk.
- XF11C-2 (Model 64A)
- Second prototype, redesignated XBFC-2.
- F11C-2 (Model 64A)
- Production version, redesignated BFC-2, 28 built.
- XF11C-3 (Model 67)
- an F11C-2 fitted with retractable undercarriage and a 700hp R-1820-80 engine, one conversion.
- XBFC-2 Hawk
- the XF11C-2 prototype redesignated as a bomber-fighter.
- BFC-2 Hawk
- redesignation of F11C-2.
- BF2C-1 Goshawk (Model 67A)
- Production version of the XF11C-2, 27 built.
- Hawk II (Model 65)
- export version of XF11C-2, 126 built including 32 as floatplanes (for Bolivia, Chile, China, Columbia, Cuba, Germany, Norway, Thailand and Turkey)
- Hawk III
- export version of BFC-2 with an 770hp R-1820-F53 engine for China
- Hawk IV (Model 79)
- export version with an 790hp R-1820-F56 engine for China, 125 Hawk IIIs and IVs built.
Operators
- Two aircraft were bought by Germany for Ernst Udet personal use.
- United States Navy operated 28 aircraft in the VF-1B squadron on US Navy aircraft carrier USS Saratoga (CV-3)
Specifications (F11C-2) & (BFC-2)
Data from "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1, page 514.
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
Performance
Armament
- Two .30 cal (7.62 mm) Browning fixed forward-firing machine guns in the forward fuselage, up to 500 lbs (227 kg) disposable stores on three hardpoints
References
- ^ a b c d "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
- ^ "United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911" by Gordon Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Naval Institute Press Annapolis, MD, ISBN 0870219685) 1976, 546 pp.
