BF2C-1 Goshawk

The Curtiss BF2C‑1 Goshawk was the final and most refined member of the United States Navy’s biplane fighter line that began with the F9C Sparrowhawk in the early 1930s. First flown in September 1935, the BF2C‑1 incorporated a more powerful Wright R‑1820‑22 Cyclone radial engine delivering 690 hp, a streamlined metal fuselage, and a fully enclosed cockpit that reduced drag and improved pilot comfort. Its single‑bay, equal‑span wings were fitted with leading‑edge slats and large ailerons, granting excellent low‑speed handling and short‑takeoff performance—attributes critical for carrier operations. The aircraft carried a forward‑firing .50‑caliber machine gun and a pair of flex‑mounted guns, and could be equipped with a modest bomb load for ground‑attack missions.

Only 60 BF2C‑1s entered service, primarily with VF‑1 and VF‑2 squadrons, where they proved reliable in the demanding carrier environment and served as a transitional platform between biplane and monoplane fighters. Their brief operational period ended in 1938 when the Navy adopted the more advanced monoplane Grumman F4F Wildcat. Though short‑lived, the BF2C‑1 Goshawk demonstrated the limits of biplane design, contributed valuable data on high‑power radial engines and enclosed cockpits, and marked the end of an era in naval aviation.

Curtiss

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Design & Classification