Bell XP-83
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| Bell XP-83 | |
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| Type | Escort fighter |
| Manufacturer | Bell Aircraft Corporation |
| Maiden flight | 1945-02-25 |
| Status | Did not enter mass production |
| Number built | 2 |
| Program cost | US$4.2[1] |
The Bell XP-83 was a prototype escort fighter by the Bell Aircraft Corporation that first flew in 1945.
The early jet fighters consumed fuel at a dizzying rate, which severely limited their range and endurance. In March 1944 the USAAF requested Bell to design a fighter with increased endurance, and formally awarded a contract for two prototypes on 31 July.
Bell had been working on its "Model 40" interceptor design since 1943. It was redesigned as a long-range escort fighter, retaining the general layout of the P-59 Airacomet. The two General Electric J33-GE-5 turbojet engines were located in each wing root, which left the large and bulky fuselage free for fuel tanks and weaponry. The fuselage was an all-metal semimonocoque, capable of carrying 1,150 US gallons (4,350 L); in addition, 2 250 US gal (950 L) drop tanks could be carried. The cabin was pressurized, and the canopy a small and low bubble type. The armament was to be six 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the nose.
The first prototype was flown on 25 February 1945, by Bell's chief test pilot Jack Woolams, who found it to be underpowered and unstable. The second prototype flew on 19 October. Apart from range, the XP-83 was inferior to Lockheed's P-80 Shooting Star, and the XP-83 project was abandoned.
The first prototype was used in 1946 as a ramjet testbed, and on 14 September one of the ramjets caught fire - the pilot "Slick" Goodlin and engineer Charles Fay had to parachute out. The second XP-83 was scrapped in 1947.
Contents |
[edit] Specifications (XP-83)
Data from War Planes of the Second World War[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 44 ft 10 in (13.67 m)
- Wingspan: 53 ft 0 in (16.15 m)
- Height: 15 ft 3 in (4.65 m)
- Wing area: 431 ft² (40.0 m²)
- Empty weight: 14,105 lb (6,400 kg)
- Loaded weight: 24,090 lb (10,930 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 27,500 lb (12,500 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× General Electric J33-GE-5 turbojets, 4,000 lbf (18 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 522 mph (453 knots, 840 km/h) at 15,660 ft (4,775 m)
- Range:
- Internal fuel: 1,730 mi (1,500 nm, 2,785 km)
- With drop tanks 2,050 mi (1,780 nm, 3,300 km)
- Internal fuel: 1,730 mi (1,500 nm, 2,785 km)
- Service ceiling: 45,000 ft (14,000 m)
- Rate of climb: 5,650 ft/min (28.7 m/s)
- Time to altitude: 11.5 min to 30,000 ft (9,100 m)
- Wing loading: 56 lb/ft² (273 kg/m²)
- Thrust/weight: 0.33
Armament
- Guns:
- 6× .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 machine guns or
- 6× .60 in (15.2 mm) T17E3 machine guns or
- 4× 20 mm (0.787 in) Hispano cannons or
- 1× 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon in the nose
