Curtiss P-1A Hawk
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company · USA · first flew 1925 · fighter
The Curtiss P-1A Hawk was the first production aircraft to carry the 'P for Pursuit' designation in US Army Air Corps service, setting the aesthetic template for American biplane fighters of the late 1920s.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 6.96 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- water-cooled V-12 engine with external radiator
- staggered single-bay biplane
- polished aluminium cowling
The P-1A's defining feature is its long, narrow-fronted water-cooled V-12 giving the nose a pointed, almost Art Deco look compared to the blunt radial-engined biplanes of its time. The lower wing is shorter in span than the upper, and external frontal radiators are visible beneath the nose.
Specifications
- The Curtiss P-1A Hawk has a length of 6.96 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 274 km/h (170 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The P-1A entered service in 1925 as a refined version of the earlier XPW-8B, powered by a Curtiss V-1150 (D-12) liquid-cooled engine. Its clean lines and high performance for the era made it a favourite for air-race appearances and public demonstrations. Curtiss produced 25 P-1As before moving to subsequent Hawk variants.
Variants
The Hawk biplane family extended from the P-1 through P-1F, with parallel export variants sold as Hawk I and Hawk II. The P-1A differed from the P-1 primarily in using Curtiss-Reed metal propellers and minor equipment changes.
Where you'll see it
The US Army Air Corps flew the P-1A with the 1st and 27th Pursuit Squadrons, with examples also exported to Bolivia and other South American air arms.
Related aircraft
- Curtiss R2C
- Curtiss CR
- Curtiss XP-22 Hawk
- Curtiss HA
- Armstrong Whitworth Siskin IIIA
- Avia BH-21
- Blackburn Velos
- Curtiss F6C Hawk
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