Curtiss F6C-6 Hawk

Curtiss · United States · first flew 1930 · fighter

The Curtiss F6C-6 Hawk was a racing variant of the US Navy's F6C carrier fighter series, modified to compete in the National Air Races of the late 1920s and early 1930s. It shared the basic biplane airframe of the F6C family but was refined for speed.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Low-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × piston, nose-mounted
F — Fuselage	6.93 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

1920s–30s US Navy biplane fighter
Single V-12 or radial engine, fixed undercarriage with wheel fairings
Carrier-capable biplane with arrester hook provision

Closely resembles other Curtiss Hawk biplanes but may feature a more finely cowled or streamlined engine installation and reduced armament consistent with a racing conversion.

Specifications

The Curtiss F6C-6 Hawk has a length of 6.93 m (23 ft).
It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
Its maximum speed is 290 km/h (180 mph).
Typical crew: 1.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

The Curtiss Hawk biplane family served both the US Army (as the P-1) and US Navy (as the F6C) during the late 1920s, and racing variants were developed to demonstrate performance and generate publicity. The F6C-6 was a dedicated racing conversion rather than a standard service aircraft.

Variants

The F6C family includes the F6C-1 through F6C-4 service fighters and the F6C-6 racer; the parallel US Army P-1 Hawk shared the same basic design.

Where you'll see it

The F6C-6 was a one-off or very limited racing conversion used in the National Air Races; it did not enter fleet service in its racing configuration.

Related aircraft

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