Douglas XP-48
| XP-48 | |
|---|---|
| |
| Role | Fighter aircraft |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| Status | Cancelled 1940 |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | None |
The Douglas XP-48 was a small, lightweight fighter aircraft, designed by Douglas Aircraft in 1939 for evaluation by the U.S. Army Air Corps. Intended to be powered by a small inline piston engine, the contract was cancelled before a prototype could be constructed, due to the Army's concerns about the projected performance of the aircraft.[1]
Inspiration
In the years before the outbreak of World War II, a number of countries became intrigued by the idea of developing a very light fighter aircraft,[2] with these proposals often being derived from the design of racing aircraft. Following the consideration of a modified French Caudron racer by the U.S. Army Air Corps, a proposition that was considered uneconomical,[2] Douglas Aircraft made an unsolicited proposal to the Army Air Corps of their Model 312 design in 1939.[2]
Design and cancellation
Intended to be powered by a Ranger XV-770 inverted V-12 engine equipped with a supercharger, Douglas' proposal was considered worth pursuing by the Army Air Corps, and on 5 August 1939 a single prototype was ordered. The Model 312 was given the Army designation XP-48, the 48th aircraft type in the Pursuit category.[3]
Closely resembling the later Bell XP-77,[4] the design of the XP-48 featured a wing of remarkably high aspect ratio, and was equipped with a pair of synchronized machine guns for armament,[3] Douglas touted the XP-48 as offering outstanding performance, with a top speed of at least 350 miles per hour (560 km/h),[3] and, according to Douglas' estimates, possibly as high as 525 miles per hour (845 km/h).[5]
However, this very aspect of its design was regarded with suspicion by the Army Air Corps.[3] The Ranger engine was suffering from development difficulties and delays and would never prove truly reliable.[6] At the same time, Douglas' performance estimates became increasingly regarded as being over-optimistic.[7] Accordingly, in February 1940 the Army cancelled the XP-48 contract,[3] and without government funding Douglas ceased development of the aircraft.[5]
Specifications (XP-48)
General characteristics
- Crew: one (pilot)
- Length: 21 ft 9 in (6.63 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft (9.8 m)
- Height: 9 ft (2.7 m)
- Wing area: 92 sq ft (8.5 m2)
- Empty weight: 2,675 lb (1,213 kg)
- Gross weight: 3,400 lb (1,542 kg)
- Fuel capacity: 50 US gallons (190 L; 42 imp gal)
- Powerplant: 1 × Ranger SGV-770 inverted V-12 liquid-cooled piston engine, 525 hp (391 kW)
- Propellers: 3-bladed, 9.5 ft (2.9 m) diameter
Performance
- Maximum speed: 350 mph (560 km/h, 300 kn)
Armament
- Guns: 1 .30 in (7.62 mm) and 1 .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns.
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