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Curtiss Wright XF 87 Blackhawk

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Top speed
  
966 km/h

Length
  
19 m

First flight
  
March 5, 1948

Wingspan
  
18 m

Engine type
  
Westinghouse J34

Manufacturer
  
Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk CurtissWright XF87 Blackhawk US aircraft World of Warplanes

Curtiss wright xf 87 blackhawk 1948


The Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk (previously designated the XP-87) was a prototype American all-weather jet fighter interceptor and the company's last aircraft project. 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 to the company; the Curtiss-Wright Corporation closed down its aviation division, selling its assets to North American Aviation.

Contents

Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

Design and development

Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk Crudmudgeonz Tumblr Curtiss XF87A Blackhawk The Curtiss XP87

The aircraft started life as a project for an attack aircraft, designated XA-43. When the United States Army Air Forces issued a requirement for a jet-powered all-weather fighter in 1945, the design was reworked for that request.

Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk CurtissWright XF87 Blackhawk US aircraft World of Warplanes

The XP-87 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 radar operator) sat side by side under a single canopy. Armament was to be a nose-mounted, powered turret containing four 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon, but this was never fitted to the prototypes.

Operational history

Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk CurtissWright XF87 Blackhawk US aircraft World of Warplanes

The first flight of the XF-87 Blackhawk was on 1 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 aircraft 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 jets in production models. One of the two XF-87 prototypes was to be converted to the new powerplants for test purposes.

At this point, the USAF decided that 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.

Variants

XP-87
First flight was March 1, 1948
XF-87
Redesignated XP-87
F-87A
Production fighter version (canceled)
RF-87A
Reconnaissance variant (canceled)

Specifications (XF-87)

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947

General characteristics

  • Crew: two: pilot, radio operator
  • Length: 62 ft 10 in (19.15 m)
  • Wingspan: 60 ft 0 in (18.28 m)
  • Height: 20 ft 0 in (6.09 m)
  • Wing area: 600 ft² (55.74 m²)
  • Empty weight: 25,930 lb (11,786 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 49,900 lb (22,682 kg)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Westinghouse XJ34-WE-7 turbojets, 3,000 lbf (13.4 kN) each
  • Performance

  • Maximum speed: 600 mph (521 knots, 966 km/h)
  • Range: 1,000 mi (870 nmi, 1,610 km)
  • Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,500 m)
  • Climb to 35,000 ft (10,700 m): 13.8 min
  • Armament

  • Guns: 4 × 20 mm cannon in the nose
  • References

    Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk Wikipedia


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