title: Curtiss XP-22 Hawk
text: # Curtiss XP-22 Hawk
  
  The Curtiss XP-22 Hawk was a 1930s American experimental biplane fighter built by Curtiss for evaluation by the United States Army Air Service.
  
  ## Design and development
  
  In 1929, the AAC ordered three P-11 Hawks for testing of the 600 hp (447 kW) H-1640 Chieftain engine. This engine proved a failure, and before completion, one of the three was converted to use a 9-cylinder 575 hp (429 kW) Cyclone, being completed as the YP-20. Testing with the R-1820 was prolonged, so the Army acquired another of the three P-11s, instead. This became the XP-22.
  
  A number of changes were made for installing the 700 hp (520 kW) Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror engine. The radiator was relocated, a new cowl was fitted, and the tail was given more fin and less rudder area, and featured a steerable tailwheel, rather than the original skid. For these changes, Curtiss charged only US$1.
  
  During testing, the XP-22 underwent a number of alterations and improvements, including a change from a three-strut landing gear to a single streamlined strut, later fitted with wheel pants. Fillets were added where struts joined the wing and the tail was briefly reduced in area, to P-6 standard. The XP-22 was also the Army's first fighter capable of 200 mph (320 km/h), achieving 202 mph (325 km/h).
  
  ## Operational history
  
  In June 1931, the AAC held a competition to evaluate the P-6, P-12, YP-20, and XP-22. The XP-22 came out the winner, earning a contract for 45 aircraft as the Y1P-22. Following the trials, the XP-22 donated a nose and landing gear graft to the YP-20, which became the XP-6E, and the 45 production aircraft were completed to this standard.
  
  ## Operators
  
  ### United States
  
  * United States Army Air Forces
  
  ## Specifications (XP-22 Hawk)
  
  Data from U.S.Fighters, Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947
  
  General characteristics
  
  * Crew: 1
  * Length: 23 ft 7 in (7.19 m)
  * Wingspan: 31 ft 6 in (9.60 m)
  * Height: 8 ft 10 in (2.69 m)
  * Airfoil: Clark Y
  * Empty weight: 2,597 lb (1,178 kg)
  * Max takeoff weight: 3,354 lb (1,521 kg)
  * Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss V-1570-23 Conqueror V-12 water-cooled piston engine, 575 hp (429 kW)
  * Propellers: 2-bladed propeller
  
  Performance
  
  * Maximum speed: 202 mph (325 km/h, 176 kn)
  * Service ceiling: 26,500 ft (8,100 m)
  
  Armament
  
  * Guns: 2x 0.300 in (7.62 mm) machine-guns in the fuselage sides
  