Curtiss P-36 Hawk
Curtiss-Wright · United States · first flew 1935 · fighter
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk was an American single-seat monoplane fighter that formed the bridge between the biplane era and the fully modern fighters of World War II. It was the direct ancestor of the famous P-40 Warhawk, sharing an almost identical airframe with a different engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.7 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- American pre-WWII fighter with a radial engine and enclosed cockpit
- Precursor to the P-40 Warhawk — shared the same airframe with different engines
- Widely exported: France, Britain, Norway, Finland, Netherlands, and South Africa
Clean mid-wing monoplane with a large radial engine, retractable undercarriage, enclosed cockpit with a sliding canopy, and smooth elliptical wingtips — very similar to the P-40 but with a rounder nose.
Specifications
- The Curtiss P-36 Hawk has a length of 8.7 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.37 m (37 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 501 km/h (311 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The P-36 first flew in 1935 and entered USAAC service in 1938 as one of the most modern American fighters of its day. French Hawks (Hawk 75) achieved significant success against the Luftwaffe during the Battle of France, accounting for 311 kills. British Mohawks served in India and Burma. Finnish Hawk 75s were highly effective against Soviet aircraft. P-36s at Pearl Harbor on 7 December 1941 were among the few American aircraft to score kills against Japanese attackers.
Variants
The P-36A/B/C were USAAC versions; export variants included the Hawk 75A for France, Mohawk for Britain, and numerous country-specific sub-variants for Norway, Netherlands, Finland, China, Argentina, and South Africa.
Where you'll see it
Served with the USAAC at Pearl Harbor; achieved notable combat success with the French, Finnish, and Indian air forces; UK Mohawks served in Burma and India.
Related aircraft
- Curtiss A-18 Shrike
- Curtiss XF13C
- Curtiss T-32 Condor II
- Curtiss Export Hawk II
- Arado Ar 80
- Blohm & Voss Ha 137
- Breda Ba.65
- Curtiss P-36C Hawk
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