Curtiss P-6E Hawk

	Curtiss P-6E Hawk


	The Curtiss Hawks originated in 1922 and introduced in 1923, were delivered in many variations up to 1938 and were produced in two categories as Pursuits and Advanced Trainers. The Hawk line was created as a private venture in order to secure military contracts, which were hard to secure in the much depressed era following World War I. Although the US Army had no immediate requirements for a new fighter, Curtiss thought it could create a demand by the virtue of its superiority and with the introduction of new structural concepts, along with the introduction of the Curtiss 435 hp D-12 engine. Impressed by the performance of the Model 33 prototype, the Army purchased it along with an order for two additional aircraft. The aircraft US Army designation was PW-8 for Pursuit, Water Cooled and the Model 33 went into production with 25 PW-8s being produced. Subsequent production aircraft were designated with the new US Army P for Pursuit series, and with the US Navy designation in 1925 as the F6C-1.

Although the wings were still made of wood, updated changes in traditional production methods introduced the wire braced welded steel tube airframe, a split undercarriage, and aluminum framed tail surfaces. Armament on the Hawk was the traditional US standard of either two .30 caliber machine guns or a combination of one .30 caliber machine gun with one .50 caliber machine gun synchronized to fire through the propeller.¹

The production of the P-1 series differed from the original PW-8 with the introduction of a tapered wing. The first P-1 was fitted with an experimental inverted Alison air-cooled version of the Liberty engine and became the XP-17 in 1930 following another engine change. Provisions were also made on the P-1 series for an alternative installation of the larger 500 hp Curtiss V-1400 engine and these were designated as the P-2. The P-6 series (Model 34 & 35) were essentially P-1C airframes with the installation of the new Curtiss Conqueror 600 hp V-1570 engine. The V-1570 was a subsequent development of the Curtiss D-12 engine via the V-1400 engine.² The most famous of the Hawk line was the 1931 P-6E which was delivered with an updated Curtiss Conqueror 700 hp V-1570 engine of which 46 were produced.³ P-6Es rapidly became obsolete and instead of being refurbished, they were allowed to wear out in service of which one remained in service up to 1942.

Total production of the Hawk was 717 aircraft with 278 being produced for the US Army, 132 for the US Navy and 307 as demonstrator and export models. Export of the Hawk began in 1926 and continued until 1938. An additional eight aircraft were built by Aviolanda in the Netherlands. Although it was never used in combat, the P-6E is recognized as one of the most beautiful aircraft of the 1930s.

Specifications:
Curtiss P-6E Hawk

Dimensions:
Wing span: 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)

Length: 22 ft 7 in (6.88 m)

Height: 8 ft 11 in (2.71 m)

Weights:
Empty: 2,715 lb (1,231 kg)

Gross Weight: 3,436 lb (1,558 kg)

Performance:
Maximum Speed: 193 mph (310 km/h)

Cruise Speed: 165 mph (265 km/h)

Rate of Climb: 2,480 ft/min (755 m/min)

Service Ceiling: 23,900 ft (7,285 m)

Range: 244 miles (393 km)

Powerplant:
One Curtiss V-1570C Conqueror liquid-cooled V12 engine, 700 hp (522 kW).

Armament:
Two Browning .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns.

Specifications:
Curtiss P-6E Hawk
Dimensions:
Wing span:	31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
Length:	22 ft 7 in (6.88 m)
Height:	8 ft 11 in (2.71 m)
Weights:
Empty:	2,715 lb (1,231 kg)
Gross Weight:	3,436 lb (1,558 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed:	193 mph (310 km/h)
Cruise Speed:	165 mph (265 km/h)
Rate of Climb:	2,480 ft/min (755 m/min)
Service Ceiling:	23,900 ft (7,285 m)
Range:	244 miles (393 km)
Powerplant:
One Curtiss V-1570C Conqueror liquid-cooled V12 engine, 700 hp (522 kW).
Armament:
Two Browning .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns.

Endnotes:

1. Peter M. Bowers. Curtiss Aircraft, 1907 - 1947. Annapolis, Maryland; Naval Institute Press, 1987. 240.
2. Ibid. 253.
3. Ibid. 256.