Curtiss Export Hawk II

The Curtiss Export Hawk II was a single‑engine, low‑wing biplane fighter produced by the Curtiss‑Wright Corporation in the early 1930s for foreign customers. Developed from the successful United States Army Air Corps P‑11 Hawk, the Export Hawk II incorporated a more powerful Wright R‑1820‑G radial engine delivering 420 hp, a streamlined metal fuselage, and staggered wings with improved ailerons. First flown in 1930, the aircraft entered service with the Chinese Nationalist Air Force, where it saw combat against Japanese forces during the early stages of the Second Sino‑Japanese War. Its armament typically consisted of two synchronized .30‑caliber machine guns mounted in the upper fuselage, and later versions could carry small bombs under the wings.

The Hawk II’s rugged construction, relatively simple maintenance requirements, and respectable maneuverability made it an attractive export option for several Asian air services. Although quickly outclassed by modern monoplane fighters, it played a pivotal role in introducing aggressive aerial tactics to pilots who had previously operated only antiquated aircraft. The type also provided valuable combat experience that informed later indigenous Chinese fighter programs, cementing its place as a transitional bridge between biplane and monoplane eras in aviation history.