Curtiss XP-60C
| Curtiss XP-60C | |
|---|---|
|
|
| Type: | Fighter plane |
| Design country: | |
| Manufacturer: | |
| First flight: |
January 27, 1943 |
| Number of pieces: |
1 |
The Curtiss XP-60C was a prototype fighter aircraft produced by the American manufacturer Curtiss-Wright Corporation .
history
After the P-40 was successfully introduced in 1940 , Glenn Curtiss tried to design an improved version. The proposal, for which the USAAC was also able to arouse interest , concerned a version of the P-40 with modified laminar wings, reinforced armament and the Continental XIV-1430-3 engine. The project was named XP-53 or Model 88. In October 1940, the order to build two prototypes was received, but development was slow. A short time later the USAAC wanted to test a cell with a Rolls-Royce-Merlin engine , whereupon the second prototype was canceled and a new order was placed for the execution with Merlin as XP-60 or Model 90.
This machine had development priority and so the prototype was able to fly for the first time on September 18, 1941. With the weaker licensed engine Allison V-1710-75 as a specification, Curtiss received the order in October 1941 to build 1,950 series P-60A machines. Curtiss proved, however, that the required performance could not be achieved with the specified engine, whereupon the order was canceled again. Instead, in January 1942, the order was placed to build three prototypes with different engines: XP-60A (Model 95A) with Allison V-1710-75 with General Electric turbocharger, XP-60B (Model 95B) with the same engine, but Wright turbocharged and XP-60C (Model 95C) with Chrysler XIV-2220. Since Curtiss was already aware of the development problems with the Chrysler engine, the company proposed the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp with counter-rotating propellers as an alternative drive, which the USAAF accepted.
Since no engine with a suitable reduction gear was available when the airframe was completed, an R-2800-10 with a four-blade propeller was installed and the resulting machine was called the XP-60E (model 95D); the name XP-60D was given to the first prototype, which has since been re-engineered to a Merlin 61. The planned XP-60 with R-2800-53 and counter-rotating propellers finally flew on January 27, 1943, while the first flight of the XP-60E was further delayed due to problems with the engine installation. At the end of 1943, the XP-53 was unexpectedly requested for troop testing and only completed its maiden flight here; however, the performance was so disappointing that the USAAF lost all interest in the pattern. In 1944 there was still a single YP-60E flying with the R-2800-13, but development was abandoned a short time later.
Technical specifications
| Parameter | Data |
|---|---|
| Length: | 10.34 m |
| Span: | 12.59 m |
| Height: | 3.77 m |
| Wing area: | 25.56 m² |
| Empty weight: | 3,945 kg |
| Max. Takeoff weight: | 4,892 kg |
| Engine: | an air-cooled double radial engine Pratt & Whitney R-2800-53 Double Wasp, 2,030 hp |
| Top speed: | 666 km / h at 6,205 m |
| Climbing time to 9,145 m: | 6 min |
| Summit height: | 11,550 m |
| Range: | 507 km |
| Armament: | four 12.7 mm machine guns |
| Crew: | 1 man |
See also
literature
- William Green: Warplanes of the second world war - Fighters, Volume four. 3. Edition. McDonald, London 1965.
