Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk
The Curtiss Sparrowhawk F9C was an American fighter aircraft in biplane design. It had a non- retractable conventional landing gear. The drive was carried out by a propeller and radial engine, which had a Townendring. The hull was made of metal, while the wings were covered with fabric, but also had a metal frame.
History
The Sparrowhawk goes back to a request from May 1930 for a small carrier-based aircraft. The contract for the development Curtiss received in July 1930. The resulting compound Curtiss XF9C -1 was delivered in March 1931. The machine was so small that the wings had not been resolved works. This was followed by five months for the flight tests. However, the machine proved to be only suitable for carrier use. The combat power of the engine had failed too low due to the low weight, while the flight performance to please knew quite.
However, it was found that the F9C was the only fighter available that would fit through the hatches of the under construction military airships USS Macon and USS Akron. The prototype was therefore provided with a special hook, the " Skyhook ", on the upper wing, so that the machine could be started in flight from the airships and taken back on board ( "Parasite Fighter" ). The basic feasibility of recovery of aircraft airships has been tested on 17 October 1931, the ZR -3 " USS Los Angeles " and classified as feasible. Thereupon the Curtiss F9C integral part in the further development of the two new airships.
Because of the positive tests Curtiss began in a private initiative to build a modified aircraft, the XF9C -2. The machine won the U.S. Navy and there were six production aircraft ordered, the F9C -2, the first of which flew on 14 April 1932. The use with the USS Akron began on 29 June 1932., It still resulted in some changes, but in September 1932 in all six aircraft were delivered.
After the loss of the airship on 4 April 1933, the machines of the USS Macon were allocated. From late 1933 to early 1935, the machines were used in exercises and maneuvers. The chassis had been temporarily replaced by an outboard fuel tank to extend the range of the aircraft. The XF9C -1 was intended as a backup machine.
As well as the Macon crashed on February 12, 1935 there were only two Curtiss F9C left. A machine retired in 1937 from active service troops, the other remained until 1940 auxiliary purposes in use. This machine with the number 9056, then went to the Smithsonian Institute and was prepared for the museum. The XF9C -1 was canceled in 1935, while the XF9C -2 was scrapped the following year.