F11C-2 Goshawk

The Curtiss F11C-2 Goshawk was a carrier‑based biplane fighter‑bomber that entered United States Navy service in 1935. Developed from the earlier XF11C prototype, the aircraft combined a robust welded‑steel fuselage with wooden wings and a fixed, split‑type landing gear, reflecting the transitional design era between wood‑and‑fabric structures and all‑metal monoplane fighters. Powered by a 600‑horsepower Wright R-1820 Cyclone radial engine, the Goshawk could reach 210 mph, carry up to 500 lb of bombs, and was equipped with two .30‑caliber machine guns mounted in the upper wing. Its dual role as a scout and dive‑bomber made it a versatile asset for the Navy's carrier air groups during the mid‑1930s, and it saw limited combat during the early stages of World War II in the Pacific. Although quickly superseded by more advanced monoplane designs such as the Grumman F4F Wildcat, the F11C‑2 demonstrated the operational potential of carrier‑borne dive bombing and contributed valuable lessons in aircraft handling, armament integration, and carrier launch procedures. The Goshawk remains a noteworthy step in the evolution of naval aviation, marking Curtiss’s final major biplane contribution before the transition to all‑metal aircraft.

Curtiss

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