Curtiss XP-62

Curtiss-Wright XP-62
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A Curtiss-XP-62 on the tarmac.
Type	Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer	Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Maiden flight	1943-07-21
Status	Cancelled 1943-09-21
Primary user	United States Army Air Forces
Produced	1943
Number built	1

The Curtiss XP-62 was a prototype heavily armed, high-performance, single engine fighter aircraft built for the United States Army Air Corps by the Curtiss Wright Corporation. The terms of the contract, in accordance with a proposal of April 29, 1941, called for delivery of the first flight within the fifteen months of award, with a guaranteed maximum speed of 468 miles per hour at 27,000 feet. The aircraft was to feature an air-conditioned cockpit and either eight 20 mm cannon or twelve 0.50 inch machine guns. The first of two prototypes was designated XP-62 and the second XP-62A.

On August 2, 1941, the specifications were submitted for the XP-62 reducing the maximum speed to 448 mph with eight cannon armament and increasing the loaded weight by 1,537 lb. During a project review of January 1, 1942 under findings of a study that the loaded weight be reduced by eliminating four cannon and removal of the propeller anti-icing equipment. On May 25, 1942 a contract for 100 P-62 fighters was awarded, but on July 27, 1942 the contract was terminated as it would affect deliveries of urgently needed Curtiss-built P-47 Thunderbolts.

Delays in delivery of the unique pressure-cabin supercharger and engine modifications delayed the first flight of the XP-62 until July 21, 1943. The XP-62A was canceled on September 21, 1943 and only a limited amount of flight testing was conducted with the XP-62. Owing to its low priority work progressed slowly and in the autumn 1942 the XP-62 was scrapped. Because of the insuffucient flight testing, full performance charactistics were not obtained.

Specifications (XP-62)

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 39 ft 6 in (12.04 m)
• Wingspan: 53 ft 8 in (16.36 m)
• Height: 16 ft 3 in (4.95 m)
• Wing area: 420 ft² (39.0 m²)
• Empty weight: 11,773 lb (5,340 kg)
• Loaded weight: 14,660 lb (6,650 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 16,651 lb (7,553 kg)
• Powerplant: 1× Wright R-3350-17 radial engine, 2,300 hp (1,700 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 448 mph (389 knots, 721 km/h)
• Range: 1,500 mi (1,300 nm, 2,400 km)
• Service ceiling: 35,700 ft (10,900 m)
• Wing loading: 35 lb/ft² (171 kg/m²)
• Power/mass: 0.16 hp/lb (260 W/kg)

Armament

• Guns: 4× 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon

References

• Green, William (1961). War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters (Volume 4). London: Macdonald.. 

External links

• XP-62 information, including a picture (from USAF Museum)

Related content

Designation sequence

• P-59 - P-60 - P-61 - XP-62 - P-63 - P-64 - XP-65

Related lists

• List of fighter aircraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States