The F9C Sparrowhawk was a small, carrier-based biplane developed in the 1930s by Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company. It was primarily designed for use on aircraft carriers and served as a fighter aircraft for the United States Navy. The Sparrowhawk was notable for its compact size and ability to operate from the limited deck space of naval vessels. Equipped with a single engine and a distinctive biplane configuration, the F9C Sparrowhawk had a maximum speed of around 200 miles per hour. It was used mainly for reconnaissance and as a fighter escort for lighter-than-air craft, such as Zeppelins, during its operational period in the late 1930s and early 1940s.