- Yes
- No
TL;DR:
“Naval” Fighter, interwar biplane fighter carried on the US Navy airships, worse than the reserve biplanes.
Overview:
A unique product of the interwar fascination with airships, the Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk was a parasite fighter designed to operate from the carrier airships USS Akron and USS Macon. Akron and Macon were designed to be able to act as flying aircraft carriers, being able to carry up to 5 planes in their hangers, though Akron would be limited to only 3 due to a construction issue. The Sparrowhawk was conceived from the Navy’s 1930 “Design Number 96” competition for a lightweight carrier fighter. All three of the submitted designs for that ended up being unfit for carrier service, but the Sparrowhawk was noted to be small enough to fit in the then-under-construction Akron-class’ airship hanger, which led to it being redeveloped into a parasite fighter. The Sparrowhawk was meant to provide the airships some self-defence capability, while also being able to act as reconnaissance aircraft (in reality the role they were needed for more often) for the airships.
The Sparrowhawk was fitted with a “trapeze hook” on top of the wings in order to be launched and retrieved by their carriers, being hoisted from hooks and dropped/retrieved from below the airships. The retrieval process required the airships to accelerate to maximum speed, which was just above the stall speed of the Sparrowhawk, and then the pilot would manoeuvre his plane to catch the trapeze bar and be lifted up, a process which pilots actually considered easier than landing on a carrier. This “trapezing” had pilots embracing the connection to the circus act, painting their aircraft with themed emblems and bright colours. An improved hook was also installed during the Sparrohawk’s service with USS Macon. Apart from the hook, the Sparrowhawk was a thoroughly average biplane fighter for its time, with similar performance to planes like the Soviet Polikarpov I-5 and British Bristol Bulldog, having a top speed of less than 300km/h, though it was also the first all-metal aircraft by Curtiss. While in hanger it could swap out its landing gear for an external fuel tank, which greatly increased the range and its utility as a reconnaissance plane. Interestingly the final design kept the underside hook for landing on aircraft carriers, though this was not usually installed.
The first Sparrowhawk was built in March 1931, designated the XF9C-1. After failing its carrier tests and being picked up for the Akrons, the XF9C-1 was fitted with the trapeze hook and tested on the airship USS Los Angeles, as the Akrons were still under construction. A second prototype, the XF9C-2, featuring an improved engine, gull upper wing, and redesigned tail and landing gear soon followed, with it being completed in October 1931. This design was approved by the Navy as the F9C-2 Sparrowhawk, and 6 planes were ordered. The first production aircraft was completed in April 1932, and in June was tested with the USS Akron. During Akron’s service it seldom actually carried its fighter complement, and when it did mainly conducted drop and retrieval tests with some basic fighter tactics developed. The Akron was lost in a storm in 1933, though without its fighter complement, which was then transferred to Akron’s sister the USS Macon. With Macon, the Sparrowhawk was part of its active complement, with more intensive training taking place, including the development of advanced operational tactics and doctrines, and participation in fleet exercises. In 1934 the Sparrowhawks were fitted with longer range radios, which allowed them to operate outside the Macon’s visual range. Unfortunately in 1935, a storm hit Macon too, destroying it. 4 of the 6 Sparrowhawks were onboard at the time and were lost with it. The remaining Sparrowhawks would be used as naval utility aircraft, and then scrapped over the years, with the exception of BuAer number 9056, which was transferred to the Smithsonian in 1939. It had been rebuilt with surviving parts from No.9057 (the other F9C-2 not lost with Macon) and the XF9C-2 prototype, and currently survives to this day displayed in the National Air and Space Museum. It was also restored in 1975 and repainted to match its USS Macon service.
Specifications:
Weight:
Empty: 960kg
Take-off: 1260kgDimensions:
Length: 6.15m
Wing Span: 7.77m
Wing Area:
Upper: 16.05m²
Lower: 12.67m²
Height: 3.2mEngine:
1x Wright R-975E-3 Whirlwind Radial 9-cylinder Piston Engine
438hp
Max Fuel: 239L + 113L External Fuel Tank
Air-cooledPerformance:
Max Speed:
284km/h at sea level
Ceiling: 5852m
Range: 478km
Rate of Climb: 515m/minCrew: 1
Armament:
2x1 7.62mm Browning (600 rpg)
Images:
Sources:
Bowers, P. M. (1979). Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947 (pp. 320-325). Putnam.