Gasbag fighter |
Curtiss F9C-2 “Sparrowhawk”
1933 Only eight aeroplanes bearing the name Sparrowhawk were ever built and the occupy a unique place in the annals of US Naval aviation, being the only operational fighters to serve aboard the airships USS Akron and USS Macon. Contracts for the construction of these two airships were signed in October 1928, and it was intended from the start that these airships should incorporate hangar space for four aircrafts which could be launched and retrieved by means of a trapeze from which the aircraft would hang by a skyhook. While the airships were being built, however plans for a suitable fighter to be carried by them lagged and the Sparrowhawk began life as a conventional carrier/based fighter. The requirement was for a very small aircraft, so small in fact that none of the three competitors tested by the Navy in the competition proved acceptable for carrier operations. The XF9C/1 however had one special attribute so far as the airships were concerned, it was small enough to pass through the arbitrarily designed hangar door. Consequently, following conventional testing between March 31 and June 30. 1931 at Anacostia it was fitted with a skyhook and transferred to Lakehurst, making the first hook/on to the experimental trapeze in the USS Los Angeles on October 27.1931. Prior to this event Curtiss had already started to redesign the little fighter by raising the wing and redesign the landing gear among other changes. Additional the engine was changed against the slightly more powerful Wright R-975. After testing and demonstrating it to the Navy six production samples were ordered and designated F9C-2 The first production aircraft flew on April 14, 1932 and made its first kook-on to the Akron on June 29, 1932. All six aircraft were delivered to the Navy in September 1932 and began operating as scouts from the Akron. The latter was loost in 1933 with no Sparrowhawks on board and flying continued from the Macon until she too was lost in 1935 with four F9C-2’s on board.After that loss the two remaining Sparrowhawks remainde in service with the Navy for about 2 years as utility aircraft. One sole survivor is currently on display at the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola. Crew: 1 Length: 20 ft 7 in Wingspan: 25 ft 5 in Height: 10 ft Wing area: 173 ft2 Empty weight: 2,089 lb Max takeoff weight: 2,770 lb Powerplant: 1× Wright R-Wright R-975-3 438 hp radial engine, Maximum speed: 176,5 mph Range: 350 mi Service ceiling: 19,200 ft Rate of climb: Armament 2× 0.30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns USN 93 René Hieronymus Scale 1:72 Building time: approx. 26 hrs. |