The Second Sino-Japanese War began in July of 1937 and would ultimately total over eight years of fighting when it concluded in September of 1945. It was an offshoot of World War 2 (1939-1945) which was still to officially arrive by way of the German invasion of Poland in September of 1939. However, the Asian-centered clash was as much a part of the Grand War as any other during the period - laying the foundation for the region for the foreseeable future. Up to 1938, Nazi Germany supported the Chinese effort while long-term support was had from the Soviet Union, Britain, and the United States.
By 1941 the situation for China appeared rather bleak in the face of the mighty Japanese military which was conquering all parts of Southeast Asia and the Pacific en route to expanding the Empire's holdings. Such was the desperation on the part of the Chinese that authorities began searching for local measures to stave off complete elimination. As such, Major General Chu Chia-Jen of the Chinese Air Force led a team in the design of an indigenous Chinese monoplane fighter to be known as the Chu "X-PO" (X-PO = "Yen Chui Ling How").
With experience had in locally-manufacturing, servicing, and operating the Curtiss Hawk Model 75 fighter aircraft, engineers fashioned a similar-minded, radial-powered development owing much to the American design. Internally, the structure was made from welded steel tubing with plywood skinning being featured - the latter a requirement due to scarcity of metal in wartime China. The engine was an American Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3-G "Twin Wasp" radial form outputting 1,200 horsepower and a driving a three-bladed propeller at the nose. The fuselage accommodated a sole pilot under a lightly framed canopy held near midships. The wing mainplanes were low-mounted and set ahead of midships in the traditional way. The undercarriage, of "tail dragger" arrangement, was made retractable. By and large, the fighter offering was highly conventional for the period.
Proposed armament became 2 or 4 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza cannons fitted in underwing fairings. Along the fuselage centerline would reside a bomb rack so the aircraft could take on a fighter-bomber role when needed, carrying either conventional drop bombs or even a torpedo.
Serial production was arranged at Kunming and a prototype form was finally readied and recorded its first-flight during 1943. However, this maiden flight proved to be the aircraft's last as the system was brought in too fast and crashed - being labeled a complete loss for the program. Despite this misstep, the Chinese effort was saved with the American entry into the war during December 1941. In time, surplus fighters would come to the Chinese to the point that there proved little need to push a local fighter design into the war.
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
✓Air-to-Air Combat, Fighter
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.
✓Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
✓Special-Mission: Anti-Ship
Equipped to search, track, and engage enemy surface elements through visual acquisition, radar support, and onboard weaponry.
✓X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.
Length
28.9 ft (8.80 m)
Width/Span
37.4 ft (11.40 m)
Height
12.1 ft (3.70 m)
Empty Wgt
7,055 lb (3,200 kg)
MTOW
14,539 lb (6,595 kg)
Wgt Diff
+7,485 lb (+3,395 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the base AFAMF Chu X-PO production variant)
Installed:
1 x Pratt & Whitney R-18300S1C3-G "Twin Wasp" radial piston engine developing 1,200 horsepower and driving a three-bladed propeller at the nose.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the base AFAMF Chu X-PO production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
PROPOSED:
2 OR 4 x 20mm Hispano-Suiza autocannons held in underwing fairings.
OPTIONAL:
Conventional drop bombs or a torpedo held along a fuselage centerline rack.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 1
X-PO - Base Series Designation; sole prototype completed and flown but lost in a landing accident.
General Assessment
Firepower
Performance
Survivability
Versatility
Impact
Values are derrived from a variety of categories related to the design, overall function, and historical influence of this aircraft in aviation history.
Overall Rating
The overall rating takes into account over 60 individual factors related to this aircraft entry.
26
Rating is out of a possible 100 points.
Relative Maximum Speed
Hi: 400mph
Lo: 200mph
This entry's maximum listed speed (314mph).
Graph average of 300 miles-per-hour.
City-to-City Ranges
NYC
LON
LON
PAR
PAR
BER
BER
MOS
MOS
TOK
TOK
SYD
SYD
LAX
LAX
NYC
AFAMF Chu X-PO operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).
Max Altitude Visualization
Design Balance
The three qualities reflected above are altitude, speed, and range.
Aviation Era Span
Showcasing era cross-over of this aircraft design.
Unit Production (1)
1
36183
44000
Compared against Ilyushin IL-2 (military) and Cessna 172 (civilian).
>>
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.
Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing all American military medals and ribbons.
China (cancelled) (Taiwan)
