Space History Photo: Curtiss BF2C-1 Goshawk

The Curtiss BF2C-1, a failed NACA aircraft, is pictured in a hangar. (Image credit: NACA.)

In this historic photo from the U.S. space agency, on the right is pictured the Curtiss BF2C-1 Goshawk on April 10, 1936. Standing at the hangar door is NACA chief test pilot Melvin Gough.

The Goshawk, Curtis model 67A, proved to be a disappointment to the Navy, mainly due to problems with its retractable landing gear and its metal-frame wings.

The National Advisory Committee on Aeronautics (NACA) was a precursor to NASA. NACA was created by Congress in 1915.

Each weekday, SPACE.com looks back at the history of spaceflight through photos (archive).

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The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is the U.S. government agency in charge of the civilian space program as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Founded in 1958, NASA is a civilian space agency aimed at exploring the universe with space telescopes, satellites, robotic spacecraft, astronauts and more. The space agency has 10 major centers based across the U.S. and launches robotic and crewed missions from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral Florida. It's astronaut corps is based at the Johnson Space Center in Houston. To follow NASA's latest mission, follow the space agency on Twitter or any other social channel, of visit: nasa.gov.

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