Curtiss P-6 Hawk

History of the Curtis P-6 Eagle

Originally based on the existing Curtiss P-1B series of fighters, the Curtiss P-6 Hawk series became the "tracked" fighter of the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) in the early 1930s. The Eagle was the last combat biplane built in large numbers for the Legion, and was eventually realized in no less than 13 different subtypes, including 8 different production models.

Although the P-6 was never used in combat, it will be missed as one of the Army's best peacetime piston-powered pursuit aircraft that appeared before World War II (1939-1945).

During the 1920s, the Curtiss Aircraft and Motor Company partnered with other aerospace companies to produce evolving competition aircraft for national competition. Many of these varieties later influenced a new generation of high-performance aircraft that came to the attention of the U.S. military.

Due to the significant and effective engine cooling system used in Curtis' R-6 race car, USAAC became interested in pursuit fighters, setting the stage for what would eventually become the P-6 Eagle.

The P-6 evolved from the original R-6 race car and a series of successful versions typified by the PW-8 and P-1 fighter biplanes that followed. It was modified to appeal to its potential military customers. The P-6 was born through the Model 34P company, which became the XP-6 prototype and its Curtiss V-1570-17 "Conqueror" series engine. The XP-6 placed second in the 1927 National Air Race (Scopane, Washington).

The non-tapered wings and radiators added to those wings produced the company's subsequent 34K model, also known as the XP-6A prototype. The original production model USAAC ordered was the P-6A, of which 18 were ordered for evaluation in 1929, and production began the same year.

This version features a revised hood and a deeper fuselage.

The XP-6B prototype exists as a P-1 fighter development with a V-1670 engine installed. The P-6C became the canceled variant, while the XP-6D was a prototype XP-6B with a turbocharged V-1570-C engine. The P-6D subsequently adopted the new standard as the modified P-6A model, which included a Prestone cooling system - in 1932 their engine was replaced with a turbocharged V-1570-C.

The XP-6E (also known as Company Model 35 and Y1P-22) followed in July 1931 as a prototype for the new major brand P-6E.

The P-6E became the most famous model of the P-6 family, with a 700-horsepower Curtiss V-1570C "Conqueror" engine capable of reaching speeds of 200 mph. Compared to the earlier P-6D production model (to which it shared many similarities), the P-6E featured an all-new forward fuselage design that stripped down its appearance to a more pleasing cylindrical shape. Its weapons are 2x. 303 caliber machine gun The landing gear - with streamlined wheels consistent with the design of other interwar fighters - was restored and the cockpit remained open. The profiles of the biplane wings are staggered, with the upper unit before the lower unit, connected by strong parallel struts and cables.

The US Navy also adopted the aircraft, but requested a version with manually retractable legs.

The P-6E became the last biplane adopted by the USAAC. Over 45 prototypes of this type were ordered in July 1931.

The

P-6 was a transitional design linking the classic World War I biplane with the modern all-metal World War II monoplane, the P-6 outperformed any biplane of that era. During the turbulent years of the Great Depression, aircraft purchases were limited only by military spending constraints.

The line continues to have small export success worldwide, with customers in Bolivia, China, Cuba, the Dutch East Indies and Imperial Japan.

Numerous experimental marks shaped the history of the Eagle, taking advantage of the technological advancements of the time, including superchargers, multiple machine gun mounts, improved radial piston engines, alloys, and more. In 1932, Captain Reuben Moffat flew a converted P-6 from Dayton, Ohio, to Washington, D.C., setting a record speed of 266 miles per hour at an altitude of 25,000 feet.

The P-6 Hawk was active until the official start of World War II in the late 1930s, although it did not see combat in the conflict.

Specification

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Performance

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Changes