1944 USAAF XP-67 - Guest - 15.01.2009
When people say what looks good flies good, they typicall refer to the P-51. However, in 1944, the USAAF testetd one of the most beautiful airplanes of all time, the XP-67. The XP-67 was designed to be a long range two engined fighter powered by two Continental XI-1430 with provisions to use the exhaust to augment thrust. Unfortuantely, the original engine design failed miserably. However, it was suggested that the planes should have their Continentals replaced with Merlins and Westinghouse 9.5 inch jet engines where the exhaust thrust config was. Early estimates said that with these mods made, the Bat would be able to fly well in excess of 500mph and because of it's clean design, it should have had amazing manuervibility. Yet, the USAAF thought that the advent of jet fighters would bring about faster planes so they disregarded the project. Then near the end of the war they were scrambling to create mixed planes that would have had the range, speed, ceiling, manuervibility, etc. that the XP-67 could have given them to excort B-29's and other bombers over extremely long distances. The Merlin powered Bat would be an excellent mixed engine fighter to add to IL2 for everything from 1944-1946 so if someone who knows what they are doing please build this, that would be wonderful!
Photos:
Data & Blueprints:
Oh yeah, like on many other planes, they planned to use M4 37mm's but would have ended up trading them out for 6 M2 Brownings .50 cals for actual opps due to speed and reliability.
http://books.google.com/books?id=i984H9SGXGgC&pg=PA149&lpg=PA149&dq=XP-67+Merlin&source=bl&ots=yZX3AHJlRK&sig=GdIO53CVCv-aMf07kMa85awUMQs&hl=en&sa=X&oi=book_result&resnum=2&ct=result
http://www.smallflyingarts.com/yabbfiles/Attachments/XP-67.jpg
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/images/xp67-6.jpg
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/xp67.html
http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=2268
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/XP-67_Bat
- GeneralPsycho - 15.01.2009
i have seen this plane in my books
such a sleek looking plane with some teething problems: terribly heavy meaning terribly underpowered, engine problems
but i will teill you this, one of the sexiest planes eva made
- Guest - 15.01.2009
Wouldn't it have been a great fighter with the Merlins and Westinghouses though.
- .041 Safety Wire - 15.01.2009
MY God its a Moonbat!
- Superdooper - 15.01.2009
I think it's a beautiful plane but experimental, i would prefer that some talented modders works on the P-61 Black Widow who flew in WWII...
- Guest - 15.01.2009
They already are. The P-61B is getting pretty close as far as I know. Nobody has started a P-61C yet as far as I know. The whole point of having this plane is "what if". There are plenty of German and Russian "what if planes" but only one American so far being the YP-80. Oh yeah, the Brits don't have any either. Here is the links to the spider.
http://allaircraftsimulations.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=7071&highlight=p61
- caldrail - 16.01.2009
It had a tendency to 'dutch roll', and was therefore not the best handling aeroplane ever. Did look nice though, I wouldn't having that on my hard drive.
- RedChico - 16.01.2009
Before posting all these request threads did you bother looking at thread STICKED at the top of this subforum?
(The link is inoperative)
- Guest - 16.01.2009
Yes I did. I wanted to get a feel for what other people thought of the American "what ifs" before I sat down, got the equipment, and started moddeling for IL2. I was also trying to see if anyone already had a start on any of these. Sorry if that offended you.
- Chaoic16 - 16.01.2009
I am going to add this thread link to the aircraft reference library of this specific aircraft in the list and if you have any more information about this iarcraft, please add them!
Chaoic out...