SC Seahawk

infobox Aircraft
name = SC Seahawk
type = Scout seaplane
manufacturer = Curtiss



caption =
designer =
first flight = 16 February 1944
introduced = 1944
retired =1949
produced =
number built = 577
unit cost =
primary user = United States NavyThe SC Seahawk was a scout seaplane designed by Curtiss for the U.S. Navy. The existing Curtiss SO3C Seamew and the Vought OS2U Kingfisher were 1937 designs that, by 1942, needed replacement.Ref Jane's|The Curtiss Seahawk|221-222|wwii]

Design and development

Work began in June 1942, following a US Navy Bureau of Aeronautics request for scout seaplane proposals. Curtiss submitted the Seahawk design on 1 August 1942, with a contract for two prototypes and five service test aircraft awarded on 25 August. A production order for 500 SC-1s followed in June 1943, prior to the first flight of the prototypes. Swanborough and Bowers 1976, p.153.]

While only intended to seat the pilot, a bunk was provided in the aft fuselage for rescue or personnel transfer. Two M2 Browning machine guns were fitted in the wings, and two underwing hardpoints allowed carriage of 250 lb bombs or, on the right wing, surface-scan radar. The main float, designed to incorporate a bomb bay, suffered substantial leaks when used in that fashion, and was modified to carry an auxiliary fuel tank.

The first flight of a prototype XSC-1 took place 16 February 1944 at the Columbus, Ohio Curtiss plant. Green 1962, p.166.] Flight testing continued through 28 April, when the last of the seven pre-production aircraft took to the air. Nine further prototypes were later built, with a second seat and modified cockpit, designated SC-2; series production was not undertaken.

Operational service

The first serial production Seahawks were delivered on 22 October 1944, to the USS "Guam". Green 1962, p.167.] All 577 aircraft eventually produced for the Navy were delivered on conventional landing gear and flown to the appropriate Naval Air Station, where floats were fitted for service.

Capable of being fitted with either float or wheeled landing gear, the Seahawk was arguably America's best floatplane scout of World War II. However, its protracted development time meant it entered entered service too late to see significant action in the war. It was not until June 1945, during the pre-invasion bombardment of Borneo, that the Seahawk was involved in military action. By the end of the war, seaplanes were becoming less desirable, with the Seahawk being replaced soon afterwards by helicopters.

Tri-color camouflage and markings on the Seahawk were in accordance with US Navy regulations from 1944, 1945 and later postwar regulations.

pecifications (SC-1, float-equipped)

aircraft specifications
plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=prop
ref=Dave's Warbirds"SC Seahawk". Dave's Warbirds. [http://www.daveswarbirds.com/usplanes/aircraft/seahawk.htm Curtiss SC Seahawk] Access date: 14 July 2006.}] "and" The Virtual Aviation Museum"Curtiss SC-1 Seahawk". The Virtual Aviation Museum. [http://www.luftfahrtmuseum.com/htmi/itf/sc1.htm Virtual Aviation Museum] Access date: 13 January 2007.]

crew= One pilot
length main= 36 ft 4.5 in
length alt= 11 m
span main= 41 ft
span alt= 12.5 m
height main= 18 ft
height alt= 5.48 m
area main= 280 ft²
area alt= 26 m²
airfoil=
empty weight main= 6,320 lb
empty weight alt= 2,867 kg
loaded weight main= 9,000 lb
loaded weight alt= 4,082 kg
useful load main=
useful load alt=
max takeoff weight main= 9,000 lb
max takeoff weight alt= 4,082 kg
more general=

engine (prop)= Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone
type of prop= supercharged 9-cylinder radial engine
number of props= 1
power main= 1,350 hp
power alt= 1,007 kW
power original=
max speed main= 272 knots
max speed alt= 313 mph, 504 km/h
cruise speed main=113 knots
cruise speed alt=125 mph, 210 km/h
never exceed speed main=
never exceed speed alt=
stall speed main=
stall speed alt=
range main= 543 nm
range alt= 625 mi, 1,000 km
ceiling main= 37,400 ft
ceiling alt= 11,400 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=32.19 lb/ft²
loading alt=157 kg/m²
power/mass main=
power/mass alt=
more performance=

armament=
* 2× .50 M2 Browning machine guns, 200 rounds each
* 750 lb (340 kg) of external ordnance

avionics=

References

* Green, William. "War Planes of the Second World War: Volume Six: Floatplanes". London:Macdonald, 1962.
* Mondey, David. "American Aircraft of World War II" (Hamlyn Concise Guide). London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 978-0-7537-1461-4.
* Swanborough, Gordon and Bowers, Peter M. "United States Navy Aircraft since 1911". London:Putnam, Second Edition 1976. ISBN 0 370 10054 9.

External links

* [http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/PippinBill/6296.htm A photograph of a Curtiss 97 XSC-1 Seahawk with float undercarriage]
* [http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/PippinBill/6295.htm A photograph of a Curtiss 97 XSC-1 Seahawk with wheeled undercarriage]
* [http://www.fortunecity.com/meltingpot/portland/971/Reviews/usaaf/sc-1-seahawk.htm# Fortune City]
* [http://www.historycentral.com/aviation/Seahawk.html History Central]

ee also

aircontent

related=

similar aircraft=
* OS2U Kingfisher
* Nakajima A6M2-N

sequence=

see also=