XF-87 Blackhawk
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| XF-87 Blackhawk | |
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| Type | Interceptor |
| Manufacturer | Curtiss-Wright |
| Maiden flight | 5 March 1948 |
| Status | Cancelled 10 October 1948 |
| Number built | 2 |
| Unit cost | US$11.3 million for the program[1] |
The Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk (previously designated the XA-43 and XP-87) was a prototype American all-weather jet fighter interceptor and the company's last aircraft project.[2] Designed as a replacement for the World War II-era propeller-driven P-61 Black Widow night/interceptor aircraft, the XF-87 lost in government procurement competition to the Northrop F-89 Scorpion. The loss of the contract was fatal; the Curtiss-Wright Corporation closed down its aviation division, selling its assets to North American Aviation.
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[edit] Design and development
The aircraft started life as a project for an attack aircraft, designated XA-43. When the United States Army Air Force issued a requirement for a jet-powered night and all-weather fighter in 1945, the design was reworked for that request. The USAAF at first favored Curtiss' proposal, for political reasons as much as technical considerations.[citation needed]
The XP-87 as it was then designated was a large mid-wing aircraft with four engines paired in underwing pods, with a mid-mounted tailplane and tricycle undercarriage. Two crew members (pilot and radio operator) sat side by side under a single canopy. Armament was to be a nose-mounted, powered turret containing four 20 mm cannon, but this was never fitted to the prototypes.
[edit] Testing
The first flight was on 5 March 1948. Although the top speed was slower than expected, the aircraft was otherwise acceptable, and the newly-formed (in September 1947) United States Air Force placed orders for 57 F-87A fighters and 30 RF-87A reconnaissance planes just over a month later. Since the performance problems were due to lack of power, the four Westinghouse XJ34-WE-7 turbojets of the prototypes were to be replaced by two General Electric J47-GE-7 jets in production models. One of the two XF-87 prototypes was to be converted to the new powerplants for test purposes.
It was at this point that the USAF decided that - as much as it wished, politically, to keep Curtiss alive[citation needed] - the Northrop F-89 Scorpion was a more promising aircraft. The F-87 contract was cancelled on 10 October 1948, and both prototypes were scrapped.
[edit] Specifications (XF-87)
General characteristics
- Crew: two - pilot, radio operator
- Length: 62 ft (18.9 m)
- Wingspan: 60 ft (18.3 m)
- Height: 20 ft 4 in (6.2 m)
- Wing area: 600 ft² (55.7 m²)
- Empty weight: 25,930 lb (11,760 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 49,900 lb (22,600 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Westinghouse XJ34-WE-7 turbojets, 3,000 lbf (13 kN) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 600 mph (970 km/h)
- Range: 1000 miles (1,600 km)
- Service ceiling 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
- Thrust/weight: 0.12
Armament
- 4 x 20 mm cannon in nose turret (never fitted)
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
[edit] References
- ^ Knaack, Marcelle Size. Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 Post-World War II Fighters 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, 1978. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
- ^ Winchester 2005, p. 72-73. Note: A further aircraft project, the experimental X-19 tilt-rotor was built by a latter-day Curtiss-Wright company.[vague]
- Pace, Steve. X-Fighters: USAF Experimental and Prototype Fighters, XP-59 to YF-23. Oscela, Wisconsin: Motorbooks International, 1991. ISBN 0-87938-540-5.
- Winchester, Jim. Concept Aircraft: Prototypes, X-Planes and Experimental Aircraft. Rochester, Kent, UK: Grange books plc, 2005. ISBN 1-84013-809-2.
[edit] External links
- Curtiss XP-87/XF-87 Blackhawk
- Uncommon Aircraft: XF-87 Blackhawk
- Several pictures of the XF-87 45-59600
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