Curtiss F11C-2 Goshawk

Curtiss · United States · first flew 1932 · fighter

The Curtiss F11C-2 Goshawk was the production US Navy carrier-based fighter-bomber of the early 1930s, combining dive-bombing capability with a biplane fighter airframe. It served briefly before the Navy reorganised its designation system, renaming the type BFC-2.

Recognition (WEFT)

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Spot it by:

• Production US Navy carrier fighter-bomber biplane
• Later redesignated BFC-2 for bomber-fighter role
• Wright Cyclone radial, spatted fixed undercarriage

Standard Goshawk appearance: sesquiplane biplane with spatted undercarriage and NACA-cowled Cyclone radial; production aircraft identical externally to the XF11C-2 prototype.

Specifications

• The Curtiss F11C-2 Goshawk has a length of 7.09 m (23 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

Twenty-eight F11C-2s were delivered to the US Navy beginning in 1932, equipping VF-1B aboard USS Saratoga. The Navy's decision to separately designate fighter-bombers led to renaming the F11C-2 as BFC-2 in 1934. The export Hawk II and Hawk III derivatives sold to China, Turkey, and others were more numerous.

Variants

The F11C-2 was redesignated BFC-2; a retractable-gear development became the XBF2C-1, while the export Hawk II reached multiple countries. The F11C-3 with retractable gear was briefly trialled.

Where you'll see it

Served with the US Navy's VF-1B squadron from 1932, retiring in the mid-1930s as monoplane types became available.

Related aircraft

• Curtiss BF2C-1 Goshawk
• Curtiss F11C 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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