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Curtiss XP-42


Prototype Fighter Aircraft


United States | 1939



"The Curtiss XP-42 was a further development of the P-36 product, though it lost out to the XP-40 after competition trials."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Curtiss XP-42 Prototype Fighter Aircraft.
1 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-31 radial engine developing 1,050 horsepower.
Propulsion
250 mph
402 kph | 217 kts
Max Speed
37,198 ft
11,338 m | 7 miles
Service Ceiling
830 miles
1,336 km | 721 nm
Operational Range
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Curtiss XP-42 Prototype Fighter Aircraft.
1
(MANNED)
Crew
28.2 ft
8.60 m
O/A Length
37.1 ft
(11.30 m)
O/A Width
8.2 ft
(2.50 m)
O/A Height
4,817 lb
(2,185 kg)
Empty Weight
5,648 lb
(2,562 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Curtiss XP-42 Prototype Fighter Aircraft .
STANDARD:
2 x 7.62mm machine guns above nose section
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Curtiss XP-42 family line.
P-36A - Initial Model on which the XP-42 was based on.
Model 75S - Curtiss Company Model Designation
P-42 - Base Model Series Designation
XP-42 - USAAC Designation
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/26/2017 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Curtiss XP-42 was a further development of the Curtiss P-36 Hawk model though it would share some initial outward similarities to Curtiss' most well known aircraft - the P-40 Warhawk. Later in its development, the XP-42 would see a series of changes that would liken it back to its P-36 roots. The system was modified from a P-36A and given the S/N of 38-004 and was featured in a series of tests designed to reduce drag qualities of radial piston engines. As such, this P-36A featured a redesigned nose and an entirely new powerplant operating a three-blade propeller.

The aircraft featured an air scoop under the engine while the carburetor scoops were mounted at top. In an interesting design feature, a long shaft was developed to properly reach and drive the propeller system. The resulting aircraft proved to be faster than the P-36A but it also faced cooling issues for the engine, serious vibration problems inherent in the propeller shaft system and the XP-42 would never prove faster than the P-40. As a result, the XP-42 gave way to the P-40 Warhawk series of aircraft, which would nab the available Army production orders and become one of America's classic warfighters of its time.

Only a single P-36A was modified as an XP-42. The system was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial series engine generating an impressive 1,050 horsepower. The system was crewed by one personnel and the entire project was officially ended by 1947, to which the aircraft was scrapped for parts.

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Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Curtiss XP-42. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 1 Units

Contractor(s): Curtiss - USA
National flag of the United States

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