Curtiss XF8C-4 Helldiver
Curtiss · United States · first flew 1929 · bomber
The Curtiss XF8C-4 was the prototype aircraft that directly preceded the F8C-4 Helldiver production batch, used for finalising the dive-bomber configuration before fleet delivery.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Prototype for F8C-4 production Helldiver
- Two-seat biplane dive-bomber with bomb-swing crutch
- Wright Cyclone in NACA cowling
Indistinguishable from the F8C-4 production aircraft without reference to data plates; a classic 1930s two-seat biplane with the Helldiver bomb-swing crutch.
Specifications
- The Curtiss XF8C-4 Helldiver has a length of 8 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.75 m (32 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 295 km/h (183 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Following the XF8C-2, Curtiss refined the dive-bomber design into the XF8C-4, incorporating changes to the engine installation and bomb-crutch mechanism before production was authorised. The Navy accepted the XF8C-4 evaluation as sufficient to order the F8C-4 in quantity. As a prototype it was virtually identical to the production aircraft.
Variants
The XF8C-4 is the prototype for the F8C-4; no other XF8C-4 variants are documented.
Where you'll see it
Navy evaluation and test only; not a fleet service aircraft.
Related aircraft
- Curtiss P-1F Hawk
- Curtiss XF8C-2 Helldiver
- Curtiss A-4 Helldiver
- Curtiss F6C-6 Hawk
- Caproni Ca.90
- Letov Š-31
- Levasseur PL.10
- Martin BM
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