Curtiss P-36 Hawk

The Curtiss P-36 Hawk was introduced in the late 1930s as one of the first all-metal monoplane fighters in U.S. service. It marked a departure from earlier biplane designs. Although quickly surpassed, it saw early combat use.

Curtiss P-36C Hawk ‘PA-50′. © Alan Wilson

Overview

Curtiss United States ICAO: P36 1938–1944 $23,000 (1944)

Curtiss P-36 Hawk — single-engine fighter aircraftThe P-36 first flew in 1935 and entered service in 1938. It featured retractable landing gear and enclosed cockpit, reflecting modern fighter design trends. The aircraft formed part of U.S. fighter squadrons at the start of World War II.A Pratt & Whitney radial engine producing roughly 1,050 horsepower powered the Hawk. Maximum speed approached 270 knots (500 km/h). Maximum takeoff weight exceeded 5,600 pounds (2,540 kg).The P-36 saw combat during the early Pacific campaigns and with foreign air forces. It was soon replaced by more advanced fighters. Nevertheless, it played a transitional role in fighter evolution.

Live Fleet Activity (P36)

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Specifications

Units
Engine
1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17 Twin Wasp
Engine type
Piston
Power
1,050 hp · 783 kW
Avionics
—
Wing tips
No winglets
Seats
1
Crew
—
Cabin width
—
Cabin height
—
Cabin length
—
Exterior length
28 ft 7 in  ·  8.70 m
Tail height
9 ft 4 in  ·  2.84 m
Fuselage diameter
3 ft 11 in  ·  1.20 m
Wing span
37 ft 4 in  ·  11.38 m
Baggage volume
—
Gross weight
—
Empty weight
—
Max takeoff weight
6,000 lb  ·  2,750 kg
Max landing weight
5,650 lb  ·  2,550 kg
Max payload
1,200 lb  ·  550 kg
Fuel capacity
140 gal · 500 L · 400 kg (AvGas)
Max cruise speed
272 kt  ·  313 mph  ·  504 km/h
Maximum speed
—
Cruise speed
—
Approach speed
65 kt  ·  75 mph  ·  120 km/h
Range
750 nm  ·  860 mi  ·  1,390 km
Fuel burn
—
Ceiling
33,000 ft  ·  10,100 m
Rate of climb
3,400 ft/min  ·  17 m/s
Takeoff distance
—
Landing distance
—
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Curtiss Hawk 75A-1 ‘No82 X-8’

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Operational Context

On May 6, 1935, the aircraft prototype took to the sky for the first time. On May 27, it was brought to Wright Field in Ohio to participate in the United States Army Air Corps fly-off, however, the contest was moved to April 1936. The P-36 was produced in various versions and was used by different air forces.

The P-36 is a single-seat fighter aircraft with an external length of 8.69 meters, an external height of 2.2 meters, and a fuselage width of 1.2 meters. The tail height is 2.84 meters and the wheelbase is 5.5 meters. It has a wingspan of 11.38 meters and a wing area of 21.92 square meters. The aircraft has an empty weight of 2,072 kg, a gross weight of 2,563 kg, and a maximum takeoff weight of 2,726 kg. The maximum payload is 550 kg and the fuel tank capacity is 135 US gal.

The P-36 Hawk is fitted with a single Pratt and Whitney R-1830-17 engine. It is a fourteen-cylinder two-row supercharged air-cooled radial piston engine with two overhead valves per cylinder, a single-speed General Electric centrifugal-type supercharger, a two-barrel Stromberg carburetor fuel system, an air-cooling system, and an epicyclic reduction gear. The engine produces a maximum takeoff thrust of 1,050 horsepower and drives a three-bladed constant-speed propeller. The aircraft has a maximum speed of 272 knots and a cruise speed of 230 knots. It has a range of 543 nautical miles at 230 knots and 750 nautical miles at 170 knots. It can fly up to 32,700 feet and can climb at a rate of 3,400 feet per minute.

The aircraft is loaded with a single 7.62 mm M1919 Browning machine gun and a 12.7 mm M2 Browning machine gun. Some were also equipped with a single hardpoint located under each wing that could carry up to 45 kg of bombs or a light bomb rack for three 23 kg, five 9 kg, or 14 kg bombs.