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Development of the Curtiss SC Seahawk began in June 1942, when the US Navy requested the company to submit proposals for an advanced wheel/float scout aircraft. The easily convertible landing gear configuration was required so that the aircraft could be operated from aircraft carriers and land bases, or be catapulted from battleships, and the type was required to replace the rather similar Curtiss Seamew and Vought Kingfisher which stemmed from 1937 procurements to satisfy a similar role. The Curtiss Model 97 design proposal was submitted on 1 August 1942 but it was not until 31 March 1943 that a contract for two XSC-1 (Model 97A) prototypes was issued.
An all-metal cantilever low-wing monoplane, the SC Seahawk had fold-able wings with considerable dihedral on their outer panels and strut-mounted wingtip stabiliser floats. The central float, which could also accommodate some auxiliary fuel, and the main wheeled landing gear units shared common attachment points. Power was provided by a Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone 9 radial engine.
The first prototype made its maiden flight on 16 February 1944, and was followed by 500 production SC-1 (Model 97B) aircraft which had been contracted in June 1943. All were delivered as land-planes, the stabiliser floats and Edo central float being purchased separately and installed as and when required by the US Navy. Delivery of production aircraft began in October 1944, the first equipping units aboard the USS Guam. A second batch of 450 SC-1s was contracted, but of these only 66 had been delivered before contract cancellation at VJ-Day.
An improved version" was developed, changes including the installation of a 1063kW R-1820-76 engine, provision of a clear blown canopy, and a jump seat behind the pilot. The modified prototype, at first designated XSC-1A and then XSC-2 (Model 97C), led to receipt of a contract for similar production SC-2 (Model 97D), but only 10 had been delivered by the war's end.
| MODEL | Curtiss SC-1 |
| ENGINE | 1 x 1007kW Wright R-1820-62 Cyclone 9 radial piston engine |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 4082 kg | 8999 lb |
| Empty weight | 2867 kg | 6321 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 12.50 m | 41 ft 0 in |
| Length | 11.09 m | 36 ft 5 in |
| Height | 3.89 m | 12 ft 9 in |
| Wing area | 26.01 m2 | 279.97 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 504 km/h | 313 mph |
| Cruise speed | 201 km/h | 125 mph |
| Ceiling | 11370 m | 37300 ft |
| Range | 1006 km | 625 miles |
| ARMAMENT | 2 x 12.7mm machine-guns, up to 295kg of bombs |
 | A three-view drawing (1404 x 1098) |
| Steve, steveg(@)abkj.com, 04.08.2009 OOPS! Meant Nakajima C6N! | | Steve, steveg(@)abkj.com, 04.08.2009 An aircraft that I find attractive, too - closely similar to the Japanese floatplane fighters. By 1942, however, the scout requirement had gone beyond the capability of a floatplane. The Nakajima C5N or the Fairey Firefly were more along the lines of what was needed, depending on whether a pure recon or a multimission platform was desired. The R-2800 would provide a basis for a satisfactory aircraft of either sort. By that time, the floatplane function was shrinking to gunfire spotting, ASW patrol, and air-sea rescue. None of them required such a performance, but the rescue mission could use more accomodation. | | Eddy, overlordmustafa(@)gmail.com, 15.03.2009 This is cool, YOU were the 1st to put the Seahawk into combat? Sir, it's an honor! Hey, are any of these puppies in museums anywhere? I just spent the longest time reading a site about seaplanes. I like the lines on it, a tad sleek, but stylish. Like a cross between a bearcat and P-47. | | William hainsworth, whainsworth(@)verizon.net, 07.08.2007 I'm the first pilot to put this aircraft into combat in june of 1945. |
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Do you have any comments about this aircraft ?
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