OVERVIEW
The F6C Hawk was the US Navy and Marine model of the Armys Curtiss P-1 Hawk.
The F6C Hawk was the US Navy and Marine model of the Armys Curtiss P-1 Hawk.
YEAR: 1924
MANUFACTURER(S): Curtiss - USA
PRODUCTION: 75
OPERATORS: United States
SPECIFICATIONS
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Curtiss F6C HAWK model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.
Unless otherwise noted the presented statistics below pertain to the Curtiss F6C HAWK model. Common measurements, and their respective conversions, are shown when possible.
CREW: 1
LENGTH: 22.83 feet (6.96 meters)
WIDTH: 31.59 feet (9.63 meters)
WEIGHT (EMPTY): 2,161 pounds (980 kilograms)
WEIGHT (MTOW): 3,349 pounds (1,519 kilograms)
ENGINE: 1 x Curtiss D.12 "Conquerer" water-cooled inline engine developing 400 horsepower.
SPEED (MAX): 154 miles-per-hour (248 kilometers-per-hour; 134 knots)
RANGE: 351 miles (565 kilometers; 305 nautical miles)
CEILING: 20,299 feet (6,187 meters; 3.84 miles)
ARMAMENT
STANDARD:
2 x .30 caliber machine guns
STANDARD:
2 x .30 caliber machine guns
VARIANTS
Series Model Variants
• Model L-18-1
• PW-8 - Production models of the Model L-18-1 of which 25 were produced for the US Army.
• XPW-8B - Experimental variant fitted with Curtiss D-12 440hp engine.
• P-1 - Production Variant of the XPW-8B
• P-1A - 25 produced
• P-1B - 25 produced; fitted with Curtiss V-1150-3 435hp engine.
• P-1C - 33 produced; fitted with Curtiss V-1150-5 engine; wheel brakes implemented; ski landing gear.
• AT-4 - Advanced Trainer Variant based on the P-1A; fitted with Wright-Hispano E 180hp engine.
• P-1D - Fitted with V-1150 engine based on the AT-4 trainer model.
• AT-5 - Improved trainer variant based on the P-1D model fitted with 220hp Wright Whirlwind J-5 radial engine.
• P-1E - Converted AT-5 models with V-1150 engine.
• AT-5A - Longer fuselage trainers; would later become P-1F.
• P-1F - Converted AT-5A trainer models fitted with V-1150 engine.
• F6C - United States Navy carrier-based fighter model.
• F6C-1 - United States Marine Corps land-based F6C model based on the US Army P-1 fighter.
• F6C-2 - Carrier-based model fitted with arrestor hook and other specialized landing equipment.
• F6C-3 - Modified F6C-2 fighters
• F6C-4 - Fitted with Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial generating 420hp.
Series Model Variants
• Model L-18-1
• PW-8 - Production models of the Model L-18-1 of which 25 were produced for the US Army.
• XPW-8B - Experimental variant fitted with Curtiss D-12 440hp engine.
• P-1 - Production Variant of the XPW-8B
• P-1A - 25 produced
• P-1B - 25 produced; fitted with Curtiss V-1150-3 435hp engine.
• P-1C - 33 produced; fitted with Curtiss V-1150-5 engine; wheel brakes implemented; ski landing gear.
• AT-4 - Advanced Trainer Variant based on the P-1A; fitted with Wright-Hispano E 180hp engine.
• P-1D - Fitted with V-1150 engine based on the AT-4 trainer model.
• AT-5 - Improved trainer variant based on the P-1D model fitted with 220hp Wright Whirlwind J-5 radial engine.
• P-1E - Converted AT-5 models with V-1150 engine.
• AT-5A - Longer fuselage trainers; would later become P-1F.
• P-1F - Converted AT-5A trainer models fitted with V-1150 engine.
• F6C - United States Navy carrier-based fighter model.
• F6C-1 - United States Marine Corps land-based F6C model based on the US Army P-1 fighter.
• F6C-2 - Carrier-based model fitted with arrestor hook and other specialized landing equipment.
• F6C-3 - Modified F6C-2 fighters
• F6C-4 - Fitted with Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial generating 420hp.
HISTORY
Detailing the development and operational history of the Curtiss F6C HAWK Naval Carrierborne Fighter Aircraft. Entry last updated on 1/22/2017. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com.
Detailing the development and operational history of the Curtiss F6C HAWK Naval Carrierborne Fighter Aircraft. Entry last updated on 1/22/2017. Authored by Staff Writer. Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com.
The Curtiss F6C Hawk series of aircraft was in fact the US Navy/Marine model of the US Army's P-1 Hawk series. The US Navy found the P-1 attractive enough to begin fielding it as a carrier-based aircraft whilst the US Marines operated it as a land-based fighter.
With its origins in the Model L-18-1 (which stemmed the PW-8 US Army production fighters), the P-1 was a biplane single-engine, single-seat fighter with fixed landing gears. In the interwar years, the system would become one of the many symbols in the evolution of the aircraft during this time. Tapered-wings, wheel brakes and evermore powerful engines produced a wild amount of variants for the Curtiss company that would see the Hawk series as a frontline fighter in all the major armed services of the time.
Armed modestly with a World War One-style array of .303 caliber machine guns, the aircraft was indeed a throwback to earlier days of aerial combat. The metal body-covering was, however, a taste of things to come throughout the 1930's. With a flight ceiling of over 20,000 feet and speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour, the P-1 and F6C Hawk series was a step in the right direction for American military aviation design.
With its origins in the Model L-18-1 (which stemmed the PW-8 US Army production fighters), the P-1 was a biplane single-engine, single-seat fighter with fixed landing gears. In the interwar years, the system would become one of the many symbols in the evolution of the aircraft during this time. Tapered-wings, wheel brakes and evermore powerful engines produced a wild amount of variants for the Curtiss company that would see the Hawk series as a frontline fighter in all the major armed services of the time.
Armed modestly with a World War One-style array of .303 caliber machine guns, the aircraft was indeed a throwback to earlier days of aerial combat. The metal body-covering was, however, a taste of things to come throughout the 1930's. With a flight ceiling of over 20,000 feet and speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour, the P-1 and F6C Hawk series was a step in the right direction for American military aviation design.
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Our Data Modules allow for quick visual reference when comparing a single entry against contemporary designs. Areas covered include general ratings, speed assessments, and relative ranges based on distances between major cities.
Relative Maximum Speed Rating
Hi: 200mph
Lo: 100mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (154mph).
Graph average of 150 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LDN
LDN
PAR
PAR
BER
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MSK
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TKY
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SYD
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LAX
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NYC
Graph showcases the Curtiss F6C-3 HAWK's operational range (on internal fuel) when compared to distances between major cities.
Aviation Era
Useful in showcasing the era cross-over of particular aircraft/aerospace designs.
Unit Production Comparison
Comm. Market HI*: 44,000 units
Military Market HI**: 36,183 units
75
75
Altitude Visualization
