The Blackhawk is a development of the Warhawk. Like its predecessor, it is made at the Curtiss-Wright plant in Buffalo.

The P5A Blackhawk entered limited production in 1935 as a dedicated long distance racer. It set several speed, altitude and endurance records, and is still the fastest aircraft of its size.

The reworked Warhawk frame is equipped with three Tornado G450 engines, for a total power of 4400 hp. This leaves very little room for other payload, and the Blackhawk relies on its superior speed and service ceiling to evade pursuit.

The Blackhawk carries only three 30 caliber machine-guns, which fire through the propeller hubs.

	Model		P5A		P5B		P5D		P5E
	Size		4		4		4		4
	Speed		5		5		4		4
	Maneuver		3		2		2		2
	Acceleration		3		3		3		3
	Nose		40		80		80		80
	Front		30		70		70		70
	Back		20		70		70		70
	Tail		40		70		70		70
	Guns		3x30		3x30		3x30		3x30
	Pylons		0		0		8		8
	Cargo		10		0		400		150
	Ejection seats		0		2		2		2
	Cockpit		Std		Std		Std		Arm
	Range		900		900		750		750

Variants

The original P5A racer is no longer in production.

The P5B and later Blackhawks are equipped with ejection seats and a reinforced airframe.

The P5D is a heavier variant that sacrifices some speed for payload. It can take 400 lb. of internal and 1000 lb. external payload. The P5D is often used to deliver mail and is popular with free traders.

The P5E is the ultimate executive transport. It has a specially reinforced crew compartment, and can carry 150 lb. of cargo in addition to external racks.

The P5A and P5B has No pylons (rocket racks) at all! This means that the aircraft cannot take drop-tanks. The removal of the pylons does result in larger fuel tanks and longer range.

Role and Deployment

Fewer than a hundred Blackhawks have been built. Most are used by private individuals, but a few Blackhawks are used as reconnaissance aircraft.

Pilots

The life of actor and amateur aviator Neville Sinclair was tragically cut short in 1935 when the wings of his Blackhawk came off during high-speed maneuvers. The slipstream made it impossible to open the canopy at top speed, and he plunged to his death. The public outcry caused Curtiss-Wright to redesign the Blackhawk. The P5B "Super" Blackhawk, equally fast but with ejection seats and stronger airframe, entered production in 1936.

Design Notes

All designs are legal, but some assumes that each removed pylon frees 125 lb. for payload. I assume that the Tornado engine is a V or straight engine in order to have the guns fire through the propeller hubs which I like. Other optional equipment include the ejection seat and armored cockpit.