Curtiss P-1 Hawk
P-1 Hawk | |
---|---|
Curtiss P-1B Hawk | |
Role | Fighter plane |
Manufacturer | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company |
First flight | January 1923 |
Introduction | 27 April 1923 |
Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
Produced | 1925–1929 |
Number built | 202 built as PW-8, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-5, AT-4 and AT-5 |
Variants | Curtiss F6C Hawk Curtiss P-6 Hawk |
The P-1 Hawk (Curtiss Model 34) was a 1920s open-cockpit biplane fighter aircraft of the United States Army Air Corps. An earlier variant of the same aircraft had been designated PW-8 prior to 1925.[1]
Design and development
PW-8
The Curtiss P-1 Hawk was the first
In September 1923, the Army ordered production of the PW-8.[3] The PW-8 (Curtiss Model 33) had been developed from the R-6 racer and was acquired by the Air Service after a competition with the Boeing Model 15, designated the PW-9, to replace the existing Army fighter, the Boeing MB-3A. Although the PW-8 was faster than the PW-9 (both having top speeds in excess of 165 mph), it was otherwise outperformed by the Boeing plane, and its surface radiator cooling system, mounted on the upper and lower surfaces of the top wing for streamlining, was more difficult to maintain and vulnerable in combat. However, the Assistant Chief of the Air Service, Brigadier General Billy Mitchell, agreed to purchase 25 PW-8s in return for assistance by Curtiss in making the Dawn-to-dusk transcontinental flight across the United States.
P-1
The prototype of the P-1, the XPW-8B, came about when the Air Service, which had selected the Boeing
The March 7, 1925 order for the P-1 also requested five aircraft with the more powerful 500 hp (373 kW) Curtiss V-1400
However, the Curtiss V-1400 engine did not perform up to expectations, with or without the supercharger, and so after a year in service, three of the standard P-2 Hawks had their engines replaced with the
93 production P-1s were brought into service in the P-1, P-1A, P-1B, and P-1C variants. 52 other P-1s, variants P-1D, P-1E, and P-1F, were made by conversion of other Hawk variants, primarily AT-4 and AT-5 trainers.
P-3 and P-5 test variants
The P-3 Hawk was similar to the P-1 Hawk but with a radial
The remaining four aircraft were production P-3As, but primarily used to service test the
Two of the XP-3A aircraft were re-engined in 1929 and 1930 with the
Five P-5 Superhawks, similar to the P-1C but with a turbocharged
AT-4 and AT-5 trainers
Two single-seat advanced trainer variants were placed into production, the AT-4 and AT-5A, using
A total of 202 PW-8, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-4, P-5, AT-4, and AT-5 airplanes were delivered.[8]
Operational history
On June 23, 1924, taking off at 3:58 A.M., Army
The original fifteen P-1s served in the 27th and 94th Pursuit Squadrons,
The AT-4 and AT-5 trainer variants served with the 43rd Pursuit Squadron (School) at Kelly Field, Texas.[5]
Variants
While a total of 202 Hawks were built in the basic variants PW-8, P-1, P-2, P-3, P-5, AT-4 and AT-5, conversions resulted in 148 having a P-1 designation.
- XPW-8
- Three manufactured, one modified to XPW-8A and later XPW-8B standard, one converted to CO-X two-seat observation aircraft.[5]
- PW-8
- 25 produced and flown by 17th Pursuit Squadron
- XPW-8A
- XPW-8 23-1203 converted with a new cooling system and modified wings for trials[6]
- XPW-8B
- Model 34 – The XPW-8A fitted with single-bay tapered wing as prototype for the P-1 series.[5]
- P-1
- Model 34A – Production version of the XPW-8B with modified rudder and additional wing center strut, and Clark Y aerofoil, powered by 435 hp (324 kW) Curtiss V-1150-1 (D12), ten built.[5]
- P-1A
- Model 34G – P-1 with three-inch fuselage stretch, larger wheels and revised fuel system, 25 built with Curtiss D-12C engine and three conversions from P-2. Final two converted to XAT-4 Trainer and XP-3 racer prototypes. Delivered in 1926.[2]
- XP-1A
- One P-1A used for development trials.
- P-1B
- Model 34I – 25 produced with Curtiss V-1150-3(D-12D) engine. Increased weight reduced performance. Delivered 1927.
- P-1C
- Model 34O – 33 built with Curtiss V-1150-5(D-12E) engine. Increased weight further decreased performance. delivered 1927–28.
- XP-1C
- One P-1C fitted with a revised radiator.
- P-1D
- 24 conversions from AT-4 trainers, re-engined with Curtiss V-1150-3(D-12D) engines.
- P-1E
- Four converted from AT-5 trainers re-engined with 440 hp (328 kW) V-1150-3 built as AT-4s and converted to XAT-5 prototype. All re-engined and converted to P-1E.
- P-1F
- 24 conversions from AT-5A trainers, one conversion from Curtiss V-1150-3in 1929.
- P-2
- Model 34B – P-1 with a 500 hp (373 kW) Curtiss V-1400, five built.
- Three later converted to P-1A and one re-engined with the XP-6.[6]
- Three later converted to P-1A and one re-engined with the
- XP-3
- Radial-engined version, one converted from a P-1A with 390 hp (291 kW) Curtiss R-1454engine, later converted to XP-3A.
- XP-3A
- XP-3 re-engined with a 410 hp (306 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-1
- XP-21
- XP-3A re-engined with the Pratt & Whitney R-985 Wasp Junior.
- P-3A
- Model 34N – five production aircraft to the AT-5A design with a 410 hp (306 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-1340-7.
- XP-4
- P-1A modified with a supercharged 510 hp (380 kW) Packard 1A-1530 engine.[8]
- XP-5
- P-1A version with a 435 hp (324 kW) Curtiss V-1150-3 engine.[8]
- P-5
- Model 34L – four built, same as XP-5 later modified with the Curtiss D-12F engine.[8]
- XAT-4
- Model 34J – P-1A re-engined with a 180 hp (134 kW) Wright-Hispano E as an advanced trainer.[2]
- AT-4
- Production version of the XAT-4, 40 ordered, first 35 were converted in 1929 to P-1Ds with the Curtiss D-12 engine, and the remainder completed as AT-5s.[2]
- AT-5
- Model 34J – five aircraft originally to AT-4s re-engined with a 220 hp (164 kW) Wright J-5, later converted to P-1Es.[2]
- AT-5A
- Model 34M – 31 aircraft based on the P-1B with a lengthened fuselage, later converted to P-1Fs.[2]
- CO-X
- The first XPW-8 prototype was converted into a two-seat observation aircraft.
All variants increased in weight with each succeeding model, resulting in slight reductions in performance with each.
Operators
- Four P-1s were supplied to Bolivia.[6]
- Eight P-1As and eight P-1Bs went to Chile.[6]
- One P-1A went to Japan.[6]
- Designated Hawk III or Hawk 3, served in the Royal Thai Air Force between 1934 and 1949.[11]
Specifications (P-1C)
Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947,[12] The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 23 ft 0 in (7.01 m)
- Wingspan: 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
- Height: 8 ft 9 in (2.67 m)
- Wing area: 252 sq ft (23.4 m2)
- Airfoil: Clark Y[13]
- Empty weight: 2,195 lb (996 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,973 lb (1,349 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss D-12C(Curtiss V-1150-3) V-12 water-cooled piston engine, 422 hp (315 kW)
- Propellers: 2-bladed propeller
Performance
- Maximum speed: 154.4 mph (248.5 km/h, 134.2 kn)
- Cruise speed: 123 mph (198 km/h, 107 kn)
- Range: 300 mi (480 km, 260 nmi)
- Service ceiling: 20,800 ft (6,300 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,460 ft/min (7.4 m/s)
Armament
- Guns: 2 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) fixed forward-firing M1919 Browning machine guns
See also
Related lists
- List of military aircraft of the United States
- List of fighter aircraft
References
- ^ "US Military Aircraft Designations & Serials 1909-1979 by J.M. Andrade,
(Midland Counties Publications, ISBN 0-904597-22-9) 1970, 252pp.
- ^ ISBN 978-0-7607-3432-2
- ^ Tate, James (1998), Army and Its Air Corps: Army Policy toward Aviation, 1919–1941, Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: Air University Press
- ^ ISBN 0-8168-9200-8
- ^ ISBN 0-85177-816-X
- ^ ISBN 0-7607-0904-1
- ISBN 0-8393-6175-0), 1978, page 1255.
- ^ a b c d Fahey, James C. (1946), U.S. Army Aircraft (heavier-than-air) 1908-1946, Ships and Aircraft
- ISBN 1-4054-2465-6), 2003, 384 pp.
- ^ Swopes, Bryan R (2018-06-23). "23 June 1924". www.thisdayinaviation.com.
- ^ Trirat (October 2007). "A Briefer History of the Royal Thai Air Force". This web site does not supply ownership information. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2011.
(Above [image]) The Hawk 3 single-seat pursuit biplane, manufactured by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Consolidated (USA), served in the RTAF between 1934-1949. The insignia (Hanuman, white body) identified it as belonging to Wing 4. This is the only Hawk 3 remaining anywhere.
- ISBN 0370100298.
- ^ Lednicer, David. "The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage". m-selig.ae.illinois.edu. Retrieved 16 April 2019.
Bibliography
- Hagedorn, Dan (March–May 1992). "Curtiss Types in Latin America". ISSN 0143-5450.