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Texas Air & Space Museum

Models by Jack Rude
F9C-2 Curtiss Sparrowhawk

Operated from U.S. Navy airships during the early 1930s
Deployed with the USS Akron and Macon

turning these airships into flying aircraft carriers

Sparrowhawks could be released and recovered in flight

were to be used for attack,

for defense of the airships, and

to greatly increase search range for the Navy's giant, helium-filled dirigibles.


Eight Sparrowhawks were produced for this purpose.
The first arrived at Lakehurst Naval Air Station, New Jersey, in June 1932


The Akron was lost in a storm on April 4, 1933
the Macon crashed off the California coast on February 12, 1935

Before these accidents, not a single Sparrowhawk was lost.

However, with only three remaining after the Akron and Macon crashed

the aircraft were relegated to utility flying.


Picture
Jack Rude has been building classic aircraft models for 80 years.

Additional military and civilian aircraft models may be seen at the Texas Air & Space Museum.
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