Curtiss | ||||||||||||||||||||||
F7C Seahawk
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Photo: Robert Deering
4/18/2015 National Museum of Naval Aviation NAS Pensacola (NPA) Pensacola, Florida |
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Designed from the outset as a carrier-based
fighter, ironically, the F7C-1 never saw the
deck of a ship, serving instead with the
Marine Corps in Fighting Squadron (VF) 5M,
later re-designated as VF-9M. The squadron
gained fame with its flying exhibitions
around the country, for which the
maneuverable Seahawk was well suited. The
appearance of the F7C-1 in December 1928
also marked the end of liquid-cooled engines
in naval aircraft, the Navy opting for the
air-cooled radial.
The aircraft was powered by a 450 horsepower
Pratt & Whitney R-1340-B Wasp, marking the
beginning of the transition to air-cooled
engines in Naval Aviation. With reliability
a top priority for carrier-based aircraft,
the Navy determined that the air-cooled
radial, not requiring a liquid cooling
system, was more reliable and maintenance
was much easier in the tight confines of a
carrier's hangar bay. Across the front of
the engine a pilot controlled a series of
shutters, forerunners of cowl flaps, to aid
in maintaining optimum engine temperatures. The Navy ordered 17 of the new aircraft and deliveries were completed between December 1928 and January 1929. Ironically, though designed for carrier deployment, these aircraft never saw a carrier deck. Instead, they were assigned to the Marine Corps' VF-5M—later re-designated VF-9M—and the squadron gained fame with its flying demonstrations around the country. A floatplane, with a single centerline float and outriggers, was also tested. |
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