North American P-64 (NA-50/NA-68)

Single-Seat, Single-Engine Monoplane Fighter / Trainer [ 1940 ]

The North American P-64 began its days as a fighter through the NA-50, was advanced in the NA-68, and served the USAAC as a trainer.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 11/06/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

VIEW SPECIFICATIONS [+]

One of North American's first projects after moving from the American East Coast to the Los Angeles, California area was production of its O-47 observation aircraft for the United States Army Air Corps. The portly aircraft, powered by a single engine at the nose and carrying a team of three, was built in 239 total examples for the service. At this time, the company had yet to unveil its war-winning designs like the B-25 Mitchell Medium Bomber and the P-51 Mustang fighter - it had, however, made a strong name for itself as a designer of capable military trainers.

Attention turned to a design that became the "NA-16" of 1935, a single-engine, twin-seat trainer which went on to see then-considerable production figures of 1,935 built from 1935 to 1939. These went on to see widespread global service and variants of the line eventually became the "BT-9" (over 260 built) and the Australian CAC "Wirraway" (755 built). Powered by a Wright R-975 "Whirlwind" air-cooled radial piston engine of 400 horsepower, the aircraft proved serviceable enough in its role until overtaken by more advanced designs leading up to the war years.

Against the backdrop of a deteriorating global situation, and a future World War becoming something of an inevitability, the company then set it sights on a low-cost, export-minded fighter with all-modern features and used the simplistic NA-16 as the starting point - thus giving rise to the "NA-50" company designation.

For power, the NA-50 was given a single Pratt & Whitney R-1820-77 air-cooled radial piston engine of 870 horsepower driving a three-bladed propeller unit at the nose. It was largely completed in metal though fabric was used at the control surfaces. Armament was modest with 2 x 0.30 caliber medium machine guns synchronized to fire through the spinning propeller blades. Up to 550lb of conventional drop ordnance could be carried under the wings, giving the fighter a light-bombing capability. On the whole, the design lacked much of what made the British "Spitfire" and German Bf 109 excellent fighters as the 1930s went but would be a capable solution to Second and Third World parties nonetheless. At the very least, it exhibited modern qualities such as an enclosed cockpit, a retractable undercarriage (tail-dragger type), and metal construction when compared to frontline biplanes of the day.

This led to the Peruvian Air Force's interest in the low-cost American fighter, mainly due to what the product could offer the country in its war against neighboring Ecuador. The type was therefore ordered, and operated, into 1950 and were used in anger as fighters and fighter-bombers for their time in the air. Seven NA-50s were ordered and delivered in all.

Then came an order in 1941 from the Royal Thai Air Force for six of the aircraft which were to be used to strengthen a possible defense against a growing Japanese Empire. These airframes were largely similar to the Peruvian models but added 2 x 20mm automatic cannons at the wings and had revised tail surfaces. With the changes in place, the modified design became known as the "NA-68". However, the order fell to naught as Thailand fell to the Japanese and the in-delivery NA-68 fighter stock made it no further than Hawaii from its Californian origination.

Instead, this fleet of six were handed over to the USAAC which sought any and all training platforms for its airmen. Due to their limited performance and armament (as modern fighters went), the aircraft were relegated to the Advanced Training role. Despite this, the USAAC elected to designate the trainers as "P-64" owing to its "pursuit" fighter roots. In their new role (sans the machine gun armament to save on weight), the aircraft operated admirably well with excellent aerobatic handling and performance being notable traits.

Those few P-64s that survived the war and ended up in the yards of expired / abandoned aircraft readied for the scrapman's torch. Two are known to have been preserved - an astounding feat considering only thirteen were ever made.©MilitaryFactory.com

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.

Specifications

North American Aviation - USA
Manufacturer(s)

Peru; Thailand (ordered, never delivered); United States
Operators

1940
Service Year

United States
National Origin

Retired
Project Status

1
Crew

13
Units

AIR-TO-AIR COMBAT
General ability to actively engage other aircraft of similar form and function, typically through guns, missiles, and/or aerial rockets.

INTERCEPTION
Ability to intercept inbound aerial threats by way of high-performance, typically speed and rate-of-climb.

GROUND ATTACK
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.

CLOSE-AIR SUPPORT
Developed to operate in close proximity to active ground elements by way of a broad array of air-to-ground ordnance and munitions options.

TRAINING
Developed ability to be used as a dedicated trainer for student pilots (typically under the supervision of an instructor).

TRAINING, BASIC
Used in the aerial training role to cover basics of flight, general handling, take-off/landing actions, and related.

TRAINING, ADVANCED
Dedicated advanced training platform for student pilots having graduated from basic flight training.

27.1 ft
(8.25 meters)
Length

37.2 ft
(11.35 meters)
Width/Span

9.0 ft
(2.75 meters)
Height

4,663 lb
(2,115 kilograms)
Empty Weight

6,801 lb
(3,085 kilograms)
Maximum Take-Off Weight

+2,138 lb
(+970 kg)
Weight Difference

1 x Wright R-1820-77 9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine developing 870 horsepower driving a three-bladed propeller unit at the nose.
Propulsion

267 mph
(430 kph | 232 knots)
Max Speed

27,559 ft
(8,400 m | 5 miles)
Ceiling

628 miles
(1,010 km | 545 nm)
Range

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

♦

STANDARD:
2 x .30 caliber Medium Machine Guns (MMGs).

ALTERNATIVE:
2 x 20mm Automatic cannons (underwing pods) with 2 x .30 caliber Medium Machine Guns (MMGs).

OPTIONAL:
Up to 550lb of conventional drop bombs held externally under the wings.

2
Hardpoints

P-64 - Base Series Designation; USAAC designation of NA-68 stock destined for Thailand; sans armament and used in Advanced Trainer role.

NA-50 - Peruvian export order; initial fighter design formed from the NA-16 trainer; 2 x 0.30 caliber machine guns; metal construction with fabric control surfaces; retractable landing gear; Wright R-1820-77 air-cooled radial of 870 horsepower; seven examples completed.

NA-68 - Based in the NA-50 though with 2 x 20mm automatic cannons added and revised tail surfaces; order nixed with fall of Thailand to Japan; reconstituted by USAAC as Advanced Trainers.

Military lapel ribbon for Operation Allied Force

Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Britain

Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Midway

Military lapel ribbon for the Berlin Airlift

Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War

Military lapel ribbon for the French-Indochina War

Military lapel ribbon for the Golden Age of Flight

Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War

Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars

Military lapel ribbon for the Iran-Iraq War

Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War

Military lapel ribbon for the 1982 Lebanon War

Military lapel ribbon for the Malayan Emergency

Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft

Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor

Military lapel ribbon for the Six Day War

Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War

Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War

Military lapel ribbon for Special Forces

Military lapel ribbon for the Suez Crisis

Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War

Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War

Military lapel ribbon for Warsaw Pact of the Cold War-era

Military lapel ribbon for the WASP (WW2)

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1

Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2

Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War

Military lapel ribbon for experimental x-plane aircraft

Images

1 / 1

Image of the North American P-64 (NA-50/NA-68)

Image from the Public Domain.

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

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. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content; site is 100% curated by humans.

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 military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)