Curtiss XP-71

Curtiss-Wright XP-71
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XP-71 illustration by Curtiss-Wright engineer G. L. Flanders.
Type	Heavy escort fighter
Manufacturer	Curtiss-Wright Corporation
Maiden flight	n/a
Status	Cancelled in 1943
Primary user	United States Army Air Forces
Number built	0

The Curtiss XP-71 was a 1941 proposal for an advanced heavy escort fighter. The aircraft was to have a pressurized cockpit and be powered by two Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engines each driving a set of pusher contra-rotating propellers.

United States Army Air Forces initially ordered two prototypes which were cancelled in 1943 before any aircraft were built due to concerns over viability of such an ambitious project.

Specifications (XP-71, as designed)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2
• Length: 61 ft 10 in (18.85 m)
• Wingspan: 82 ft 3 in (25.07 m)
• Height: 19 ft 0 in (5.79 m)
• Wing area: 602 ft² (55.9 m²)
• Empty weight: 31,060 lb (14,090 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 46,950 lb (21,295 kg)
• Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-4360-13 "Wasp Major" radial engines, 3,450 hp (2,574 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 428 mph (371 knots, 690 km/h) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
• Range: 3,000 mi (2,600 nm, 4,800 km)
• Service ceiling: 40,000 ft (12,000 m)
• Max wing loading: 51.6 lb/ft² (252 kg/m²)
• Minimum power/mass: 0.147 hp/lb (242 W/kg)
• Time to altitude: 12.5 min to 25,000 ft (7,620 m)

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 1× 75 mm (2.95 in) cannon
  • 2× 37 mm (1.46 in) cannon

Related content

Comparable aircraft

• XP-58 Chain Lightning

Designation sequence

• XP-68 - XP-69 - P-70 - P-71 - XP-72 - XP-73 - P-75

Related lists

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