Curtiss P-6 Hawk

The Curtiss P‑6 Hawk was a single‑engine, single‑seat biplane fighter that entered service with the United States Army Air Corps in 1929. Developed from the earlier PW‑8 and P‑11 series, the P‑6 incorporated a powerful 600‑hp Curtiss V‑1570 “Consolidated” engine, a rugged welded‑steel fuselage, and interchangeable wings that allowed quick conversion between a high‑speed “day” configuration and a slower, more stable “trainer” layout. Its open cockpit offered excellent visibility, while the staggered, unequal‑span wings and generous aileron surface provided agile handling in both climb and turn. Production totaled 258 aircraft, including several experimental variants such as the P‑6A, P‑6B, and the record‑setting P‑6E “Hawk of the Navy,” which set a speed record of 248 mph in 1931. The P‑6 saw combat in Central America and the Philippines, proving reliable in the harsh tropical environment. Though quickly outclassed by monoplane designs, the Hawk’s robust construction, ease of maintenance, and impressive performance made it a benchmark for U.S. fighter development in the early 1930s, influencing the design philosophy of later Curtiss models such as the P‑36 and P‑40. Its legacy also includes use as a test platform for early radio navigation experiments and as a trainer for many future aces.

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