Curtiss P-1 Hawk
Curtiss · United States · first flew 1923 · fighter
The Curtiss P-1 Hawk was the first American aircraft to carry the 'P for Pursuit' fighter designation, entering service with the US Army Air Corps in 1925. It established the Hawk family that would dominate American biplane fighter development through the early 1930s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.04 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- 1920s US Army Air Corps biplane fighter
- Curtiss D-12 water-cooled V-12 engine
- First American fighter to carry P (Pursuit) designation
A sesquiplane or equal-span biplane with a distinctively long and narrow nose cowling housing the water-cooled V-12 Curtiss engine, in contrast to the blunter radial-engined contemporaries; open cockpit and fixed spatted undercarriage.
Specifications
- The Curtiss P-1 Hawk has a length of 7.04 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 311 km/h (193 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The P-1 evolved from the successful R-6 racing aircraft and entered service as the Army's standard fighter. Its Curtiss D-12 engine gave it a long, sleek nose profile that became characteristic of Curtiss fighters of the era. The Hawk family was developed through numerous variants and export versions, directly evolving toward the P-6 Hawk and later the P-36 and P-40 monoplanes.
Variants
Variants included the P-1A through P-1C with progressive improvements; the export Hawk I was a related type; the O-1 Falcon was a two-seat observation derivative of the same basic design.
Where you'll see it
Served US Army Air Corps pursuit squadrons from 1925 to the early 1930s, gradually replaced by improved biplane and monoplane fighters.
Related aircraft
- Curtiss Carrier Pigeon
- Curtiss F6C Hawk
- Curtiss O-1E Falcon
- Curtiss R3C-2
- Aero A.18
- Aero A.20
- Avia BH-7
- Beardmore W.B.XXVI
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