Curtiss F11C Goshawk
Curtiss · United States · first flew 1932 · fighter
The Curtiss F11C Goshawk was an American single-seat carrier-based biplane fighter-bomber operated by the US Navy in the early 1930s. Export versions, designated BFC and BF2C Goshawk, served with several foreign air forces.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | High-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.19 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine biplane dive bomber and fighter
- Wright Cyclone radial engine in NACA cowling
- Later variants had retractable undercarriage — unusual for a biplane
A single-bay biplane with an NACA-cowled radial engine and a clean, streamlined fuselage; the retractable-undercarriage export variants are distinguished by the absence of wheel fairings and the streamlined gear legs.
Specifications
- The Curtiss F11C Goshawk has a length of 7.19 m (24 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 333 km/h (207 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The F11C entered US Navy service in 1932 and served briefly before being reclassified as the BFC dive bomber in 1934. Curtiss sold export versions to China, Cuba, Colombia, Turkey, and Thailand; the BF2C-1 export model featured a retractable undercarriage, a notable novelty for a biplane of the period.
Variants
The F11C-2 was the production Navy fighter; the F11C-3 (BFC-2) was the dive bomber reclassification; the export BF2C had a retractable undercarriage and more powerful engine.
Where you'll see it
US Navy squadron VF-1B operated the type briefly; China used export Goshawks against Japanese aircraft in the mid-1930s.
Related aircraft
- Curtiss BF2C-1 Goshawk
- Curtiss F11C-2 Goshawk
- Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk
- Curtiss XBFC-1 Hawk
- ANF Les Mureaux 170
- Avia B-34
- Boeing P-26 Peashooter
- Boeing P-26A Peashooter
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