Curtiss BFC-2 Goshawk

The second prototype of the F11C was in fact a machine built as the first. It was a demonstrator export fighter planes, named Hawk II, which first flew in may 1932 and that represented an attempt to modernise the structures, of which the first variant (XPW-8B) was established in 1924. Unlike XF11C-1 it was in large part just about the P-6E with a star engine, in this case, the best Wright R-1820, covered by a ring Townend. The design of the wings was, again, a hardwood, and tail surfaces and ailerons were again coated with canvas. Also the tail wheel was positioned more in the front, as for the P-6E, and the chassis used smaller wheels with balonovými tires, but he had longer legs than the XF11C-1. Armament accounted for the usual two machine guns, and under the wings carrying racks for four bombs. In addition, perhaps as an afterthought, he got between the undercarriage legs murphy fork capable of carrying a 227kg bomb, and, where appropriate, could carry an additional tank of the same type, which were used F6C.

Already in April the contract was signed with the navy that this machine bought and at the same time, ordered the previously mentioned "first" prototype XF11C-1 with a metal skeleton wings, etc. XF11C-2, BuNo 9213, soon came to the front cover of the motor casing, and also got a new tail wheel after the pattern of the second machine, placed up under the rudder. Created for him also a new auxiliary tank spindle-shaped. Unlike the XF11C-1 did not suffer any major problems, reliable and more powerful engine also meant better performance than in the second prototype, and at the same time, XF11C-2 has retained popular features of the previous variants of the Hawk, especially the easy and responsive controls. The 9213 was destroyed in a crash in August 1932, before the completion of the XF11C-1, in October of the same year but was ordered 28 of the serial machines with the designation of the F11C-2. These largely correspond to the final form of the prototype, should but wider cover ring engine and a large undercarriage wheels, the same as the XF11C-1.

The first machines were completed in February 1933, and during the month have been taken by the user, the squadron VF-1B Top Hats the USS Saratoga, where to supplement Boeing F4B-3. At the beginning of the year 1934 have all machines adjusted using kits supplied by the factory, were slightly higher backs, which were a life raft, and the partial obscuring of the cabin. At the same time were the machine and the squadron itself captured one of the waves renaming, triggered by the change of tactics of the navy, which began to prefer the use of their fighters as light bombers. In march 1934, therefore, were F11C-2 renamed fighter-bomber BFC-2, and also the squadron changed designation from the VF-1B on the VB-2B (terminal B in this case meant belonging to the pacific Battle Force, unlike With so Scouting Force, stationed originally in the Atlantic). In July 1937 then there was another wave, when the navy decided that all of the squadron will carry as part of its designation hull number of the ship, on whose deck they are. From VB-2B, still aboard the USS Saratoga (CV-3) became VB-3 and from the VF-6B is in the same boat has become VF-3. Has also changed the coloring of the tail, instead of the red color, reserved purely for VF-1B/VB-2Bnow her machine carry the tails of white, common to all squadrons on board the Saratoga. Not long after she began squadron to receive the new Voughty SB2U-1, and part of the machinery at the beginning of the year 1938 moved to squadron VB-6, designed for the new aircraft carrier USS Enterprise and using mostly similar to the old Boeing F4B-4. A large part of which was but very soon removed, and in December 1938 they were all outstanding BFC-2 definitely grounded..

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