Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk – Photos & Vidéo

The Curtiss F9C Sparrowhawk is a light 1930s biplane fighter aircraft that was carried by the United States Navy airships USS Akron and Macon. It is an example of a parasite fighter, a small airplane designed to be deployed from a larger aircraft such as an airship or bomber.

Source: Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk sur Wiki

The Curtiss F9C-2 Sparrowhawk was a light biplane fighter aircraft that was carried by the United States Navy airships USS Akron and USS Macon in the 1930s. It was an example of a parasite fighter, a small airplane designed to be deployed from a larger aircraft such as an airship or bomber. The Sparrowhawk had a hook mounted above its top wing that attached to a trapeze on the carrier airship. For launching, the biplane’s hook was engaged on the trapeze inside the airship’s hangar, the trapeze was lowered clear of the hull into the airship’s slipstream and, engine running, the Sparrowhawk would then disengage its hook and fall away from the airship.
For recovery, the biplane would fly underneath the airship and hook onto the trapeze, which would then be raised into the hangar. The Sparrowhawk’s primary duty in service was reconnaissance, enabling the airships to search a wider area of ocean. The Sparrowhawk was powered by a Wright R-975-22 Whirlwind radial engine that produced 415 hp and had a maximum speed of 284 km/h. It was armed with two Browning M1919 machine guns. The Sparrowhawk’s service ended in 1935 after the crashes of both USS Akron and USS Macon, which resulted in the loss of most of the aircraft and their pilots.