Curtiss XBFC-1 Hawk
Curtiss · United States · first flew 1932 · fighter
The Curtiss XBFC-1 was a prototype biplane fighter-bomber designed for the US Navy in the early 1930s, combining fighter performance with light bombing capability in a single airframe.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.92 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Biplane fighter-bomber prototype derived from Hawk series
- Single Wright R-1510 radial in NACA cowling
- Fixed spatted undercarriage on Hawk airframe
A compact single-seat biplane with equal-span wings, an NACA-cowled radial, and spatted main undercarriage; closely resembles other Curtiss Hawk derivatives of the period.
Specifications
- The Curtiss XBFC-1 Hawk has a length of 7.92 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 321 km/h (199 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Curtiss submitted the XBFC-1 to meet a US Navy requirement for a combined fighter and bomber type. It was based closely on the contemporary Hawk biplane family, fitted with a Wright R-1510 twin-row radial and provision for a centreline bomb. The Navy evaluated it in 1932 but did not proceed with production, preferring separate optimised types.
Variants
A single prototype was built; no production variant was ordered.
Where you'll see it
Evaluated by the US Navy but not adopted for operational service.
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