Lockheed XP-49

The Lockheed XP-49 (company Model 522) was an advancement on the P-38 Lightning for a fighter in response to U.S. Army Air Corps proposal 39-775. Intended to use the new 24-cylinder Pratt & Whitney X-1800 engine, this proposal, which was for an aircraft substantially similar to the P-38, was assigned the designation XP-49, while the competing Grumman Model G-46 was awarded second place and designated XP-50.

XP-49
Role Fighter
National origin United States
Manufacturer Lockheed Corporation
Designer Clarence Johnson
First flight 14 November 1942
Status Cancelled
Number built 1
Developed from Lockheed P-38 Lightning

History

Ordered in October 1939 and approved on January 8, 1940, the XP-49 was to feature a pressurized cockpit and armament of two 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon and four .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns. Two months into the contract, a decision was made to substitute the Continental XI-1430-1 (or IV-1430) for the X-1800. The XP-49, 40-3055, first flew on 11 November 1942. The prototype force-landed on 1 January 1943, when the port landing gear failed to lock down due to combined hydraulic and electrical system failures.[1] The XP-49 next flew 16 February 1943, after repairs were made. Preliminary flight data showed performance was not sufficiently better than the production P-38, especially given the questionable future of the XI-1430 engine, to warrant disruption of the production line to introduce the new model aircraft. Consideration of quantity production was therefore abandoned.

The aircraft was flown to Wright Field, and after various problems, further work on the XP-49 was halted, and Lockheed focused their energies on improving the P-38 instead.

Specifications (XP-49)

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 40 ft 1 in (12.2 m)
  • Wingspan: 52 ft 0 in (15.8 m)
  • Height: 9 ft 10 in (3.0 m)
  • Wing area: 327.5 sq ft (30 m2)
  • Empty weight: 15,410 lb (6,990 kg)
  • Gross weight: 18,750 lb (8,505 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Continental XI-1430-1 inverted V-12s, 1,600 hp (1,193 kW) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 406 mph (653 km/h, 353 kn) 15,000 ft (4,570 m)
  • Range: 679 mi (1,093 km, 590 nmi)
  • Rate of climb: 3,300 ft/min (16.8 m/s)

Armament

  • 2 × 20 mm (.79 in) cannons
  • 4 × 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns
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See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

Related lists

References

Citations
  1. http://www.aviationarchaeology.com/src/AARmonthly/Jan1943S.htm

Bibliography
  • Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War, Volume Four: Fighters. London: MacDonald & Co. (Publishers) Ltd., 1961 (Sixth impression 1969). ISBN 0-356-01448-7.
  • Green, William and Swanborough, Gordon. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: US Army Air Force Fighters, Part 2. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1978. ISBN 0-354-01072-7.

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