Wedell-Williams XP-34: Difference between revisions
No edit summary |
Trialpears (talk | contribs) m Convert Template:Aerospecs to Template:Aircraft specs per Wikipedia:Templates for discussion/Log/2019 March 20#Template:Aerospecs (via WP:JWB) |
||
(63 intermediate revisions by 36 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{short description|Canceled fighter project}} |
|||
The '''Wedell-Williams XP-34''' was an obsolete [[fighter aircraft]] design submitted to the [[United States Army Air Corps]] before [[World War II]] by Marguerite Clark Williams, the widow of millionaire [[Harry P. Williams]]. |
|||
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. --> |
|||
{|{{Infobox Aircraft Begin |
|||
|name=XP-34 |
|||
|image= File:Wedell-Williams XP-34 artists concept.jpg |
|||
|caption= Artist's impression of the XP-34 |
|||
}}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |
|||
|type= [[Fighter aircraft]] |
|||
|national origin= United States |
|||
|manufacturer= [[Jimmy Wedell|Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation]] |
|||
|designer= |
|||
|first flight= |
|||
|introduced= |
|||
|retired= |
|||
|status= |
|||
|primary user= |
|||
|more users = |
|||
|produced= |
|||
|number built= |
|||
|unit cost= |
|||
|developed from= [[Wedell-Williams Model 45]] |
|||
|variants with their own articles= |
|||
|developed into= |
|||
}} |
|||
|} |
|||
The '''Wedell-Williams XP-34''' was a [[fighter aircraft]] design submitted to the [[United States Army Air Corps]] (USAAC) before [[World War II]] by [[Marguerite Clark]] Williams, widow of millionaire [[Harry Palmerston Williams|Harry P. Williams]], former owner and co-founder of the [[Jimmy Wedell|Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation]]. |
|||
Williams was owner of [[Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation]]. The aircraft was the brainchild of [[Jimmy Wedell]], a famous aircraft designer and air racer. The XP-34 was a direct result of the development of Wedell's most successful designs, the [[Wedell-Williams Model 44|Model 44]] and [[Wedell-Williams Model 45|Model 45]]. |
|||
==Design and development== |
|||
On [[October 1]] [[1935 in aviation|1935]], the USAAC ordered a full set of drawings and issued the XP-34 designation. It soon became apparent, however, with its original 700 hp (522 kW) [[Pratt & Whitney R-1535]] Twin Wasp engine, the anticipated performance of the XP-34 would be insufficent compared to designs already in production. Wedell-Williams suggested substituting the 900 hp (670 kW) [[Pratt & Whitney XR-1830]] instead, but the Air Corps was no longer interested and the project was cancelled without any aircraft being built. |
|||
Derived from an original proposal made in 1932, the XP-34 was based on a design by [[air racing|air racer]] [[Jimmy Wedell]], who was considered, "one of the most noted race plane designers of its day".<ref name= "Jones p. 80">Jones 1975, p. 80.</ref> The aircraft was a direct result of the development of Wedell's most successful designs, the [[Wedell-Williams Model 44|Model 44]] and [[Wedell-Williams Model 45|Model 45]].<ref name="Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 61"/> The forward fuselage was intended to be metal, the after part and control surfaces covered in [[aircraft fabric|fabric]].<ref name= "Jones p. 80"/> |
|||
The interest expressed from the USAAC was based on the success of the private racing aircraft in the 1930s that were reaching 300 mph speeds in competition, a performance level not achieved by standard aircraft types in service in the U.S. military.<ref name="Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 61">Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 61.</ref> |
|||
==Related content== |
|||
'''Related development:''' |
|||
[[Wedell-Williams Model 44]] - |
|||
[[Wedell-Williams Model 45]] |
|||
On 1 October 1935, the USAAC ordered a full set of drawings and issued the XP-34 designation. It soon became apparent, however, with its original 700 hp (522 kW) [[Pratt & Whitney]] [[Pratt & Whitney R-1535|R1535]] Twin Wasp engine, the anticipated performance of the XP-34 would be insufficient compared to designs already in production. |
|||
'''Comparable aircraft:''' |
|||
Wedell-Williams suggested substituting the 900 hp (671 kW) [[Pratt & Whitney R-1830|XR-1830]] instead. Although the promise of high speed was still there, other considerations such as the complete redesign of the airframe to accommodate a heavier and more powerful engine were considered impractical with the new design subsequently rejected by the Air Corps before any aircraft were built.<ref name="Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 61"/> |
|||
'''Designation sequence:''' |
|||
[[XP-31 Swift|XP-31]] - |
|||
[[Boeing XP-32|XP-32]] - |
|||
[[Consolidated XP-33|XP-33]] - |
|||
'''XP-34''' - |
|||
[[P-35 Guardsman|P-35]] - |
|||
[[P-36 Hawk|P-36]] - |
|||
[[Curtiss YP-37|YP-37]] |
|||
==Specifications (proposed)== |
|||
{{airlistbox}} |
|||
{{Aircraft specs |
|||
|ref= ''U.S. Fighters'' |
|||
|prime units? = imp |
|||
|crew=1 pilot |
|||
|length m=7.2 |
|||
|length ft=23 |
|||
|length in=6 |
|||
|span m=8.45 |
|||
|span ft=27 |
|||
|span in=8.5 |
|||
|width in=<!-- if applicable --> |
|||
As proposed, the XP-34 would have had a [[wingspan|span]] of 27' 8.5" (8.45 m), height 10' 9" (3.28 m), a gross weight of 4,250 lb (1927 kg), and a projected speed of 286 mph at 10,000 ft (460 km/h at 3050 m).<ref name= "Jones p. 80"/> |
|||
[[Category:U.S. fighter aircraft 1930-1939|P-34]] |
|||
|height m=3.28 |
|||
|height ft=10 |
|||
|height in=9 |
|||
|gross weight kg=1,928 |
|||
|gross weight lb=4,250 |
|||
|eng1 number=1 |
|||
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney]] [[Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp|XR1830-C]] air-cooled [[radial engine|radial]] |
|||
|eng1 kw=671 |
|||
|eng1 hp=900 |
|||
|max speed kmh=496 |
|||
|max speed mph=308 |
|||
}} |
|||
==See also== |
|||
{{Aircontent |
|||
<!-- include as many lines are appropriate. additional lines/entries with carriage return. --> |
|||
|see also= |
|||
|related=<!-- related developments --> |
|||
*[[Wedell-Williams Model 44]] |
|||
*[[Wedell-Williams Model 45]] |
|||
|similar aircraft=<!-- similar or comparable aircraft --> |
|||
|sequence=<!-- designation sequence, if appropriate --> |
|||
|lists=<!-- related lists --> |
|||
*[[List of military aircraft of the United States]] |
|||
}} |
|||
==References== |
|||
{{commons category|Wedell-Williams XP-34}} |
|||
;Notes |
|||
{{reflist}} |
|||
;Bibliography |
|||
{{refbegin}} |
|||
* Dorr, Robert F. and Donald, David. ''Fighters of the United States Air Force.'' London: Temple, 1990. {{ISBN|0-600-55094-X}}. |
|||
* Jones, Lloyd S. ''U.S. Fighters, Army-Air Force: 1925 to 1980s''. Los Angeles: Aero Publishers Incorporated, 1975. {{ISBN|0-8168-9200-8}}. |
|||
{{refend}} |
|||
{{USAF fighters}} |
|||
[[Category:Wedell-Williams aircraft|XP-34]] |
|||
[[Category:Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States|Wedell-Williams P-34]] |
|||
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]] |
|||
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]] |
Latest revision as of 21:33, 20 July 2020
XP-34 | |
---|---|
Artist's impression of the XP-34 | |
Role | Fighter aircraft |
National origin | United States |
Manufacturer | Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation |
Developed from | Wedell-Williams Model 45 |
The Wedell-Williams XP-34 was a fighter aircraft design submitted to the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) before World War II by Marguerite Clark Williams, widow of millionaire Harry P. Williams, former owner and co-founder of the Wedell-Williams Air Service Corporation.
Design and development[edit]
Derived from an original proposal made in 1932, the XP-34 was based on a design by air racer Jimmy Wedell, who was considered, "one of the most noted race plane designers of its day".[1] The aircraft was a direct result of the development of Wedell's most successful designs, the Model 44 and Model 45.[2] The forward fuselage was intended to be metal, the after part and control surfaces covered in fabric.[1]
The interest expressed from the USAAC was based on the success of the private racing aircraft in the 1930s that were reaching 300 mph speeds in competition, a performance level not achieved by standard aircraft types in service in the U.S. military.[2]
On 1 October 1935, the USAAC ordered a full set of drawings and issued the XP-34 designation. It soon became apparent, however, with its original 700 hp (522 kW) Pratt & Whitney R1535 Twin Wasp engine, the anticipated performance of the XP-34 would be insufficient compared to designs already in production.
Wedell-Williams suggested substituting the 900 hp (671 kW) XR-1830 instead. Although the promise of high speed was still there, other considerations such as the complete redesign of the airframe to accommodate a heavier and more powerful engine were considered impractical with the new design subsequently rejected by the Air Corps before any aircraft were built.[2]
Specifications (proposed)[edit]
Data from U.S. Fighters
General characteristics
- Crew: 1 pilot
- Length: 23 ft 6 in (7.2 m)
- Wingspan: 27 ft 8.5 in (8.45 m)
- Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.28 m)
- Gross weight: 4,250 lb (1,928 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney XR1830-C air-cooled radial , 900 hp (671 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 308 mph (496 km/h, 268 kn)
See also[edit]
Related development
Related lists
References[edit]
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Dorr, Robert F. and Donald, David. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Temple, 1990. ISBN 0-600-55094-X.
- Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Fighters, Army-Air Force: 1925 to 1980s. Los Angeles: Aero Publishers Incorporated, 1975. ISBN 0-8168-9200-8.