Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk

XF-87 Blackhawk
XF-87 Blackhawk
General information
Type	Interceptor aircraft
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Curtiss-Wright
Status	Canceled 10 October 1948
Primary user	U.S. Air Force
Number built	2
History
First flight	5 March 1948

The Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk (previously designated the XP-87) was a prototype American all-weather jet fighter-interceptor, and the company's last aircraft project.^[1] Designed as a replacement for the World War II–era propeller-driven P-61 Black Widow night/interceptor aircraft, the XF-87 lost in government procurement competition to the Northrop F-89 Scorpion. The loss of the contract was fatal to the company; the Curtiss-Wright Corporation closed down its aviation division, selling its assets to North American Aviation.

Design and development

The aircraft started life as a project for an attack aircraft, designated XA-43. When the United States Army Air Forces issued a requirement for a jet-powered all-weather fighter in 1945, the design was reworked for that request.

The XP-87 was a large mid-wing aircraft with four engines paired in underwing pods, with a mid-mounted tailplane and tricycle undercarriage. Two crew members (pilot and radar operator) sat side by side under a single canopy. Armament was to be a nose-mounted, powered turret containing four 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon, but this was never fitted to the prototypes. Instead the aircraft was armed with four fixed forward firing 20mm cannon.^[2]

Operational history

The first flight of the XF-87 Blackhawk was on 5 March 1948.^[3] Although the top speed was slower than expected, the aircraft was otherwise acceptable, and the newly formed (in September 1947) United States Air Force placed orders for 57 F-87A fighters and 30 RF-87A reconnaissance aircraft just over a month later. Since the performance problems were due to lack of power, the four Westinghouse XJ34-WE-7 turbojets of the prototypes were to be substituted for two General Electric J47 jets in production models. One of the two XF-87 prototypes was to be modified as a test bed for the new engines.

At this point, the USAF decided that the Northrop F-89 Scorpion was a more promising aircraft. The F-87 contract was cancelled on 10 October 1948, and both prototypes were scrapped.

Variants

XP-87 following nosewheel collapse

XP-87 on ramp with C-47s and B-17s in background

XP-87: First flight was March 5, 1948

XF-87: Redesignated XP-87

F-87A: Production fighter version (canceled)

RF-87A: Reconnaissance variant (canceled)

Specifications (XF-87 No.1)

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947^[4]

General characteristics

Crew: 2
Length: 62 ft 10 in (19.15 m)
Wingspan: 60 ft 0 in (18.29 m)
Height: 20 ft 0 in (6.10 m)
Wing area: 600 sq ft (56 m²)
Empty weight: 25,930 lb (11,762 kg)
Gross weight: 49,900 lb (22,634 kg)
Powerplant: 4 × Westinghouse XJ34-WE-7 turbojet engines, 3,000 lbf (13 kN) thrust each

Performance

Maximum speed: 600 mph (970 km/h, 520 kn) at sea level
Range: 1,000 mi (1,600 km, 870 nmi)
Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,000 m)
Time to altitude: 35,000 ft (11,000 m) in 13 minutes 48 seconds

Armament

Guns: 4 × 20 mm (0.787 in) AN/M2 cannon in the nose

References

Notes

^ Winchester 2005, pp. 72–73.
^ Bowers, Curtiss Aircraft, pp.509-510
^ Associated Press, "Four-Jet Fighter, Weighing as Much As B-17, Tested", San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Tuesday 2 March 1948, Volume LIV, Number 158, page 1.
^ Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss aircraft, 1907-1947. London: Putnam. pp. 508–510. ISBN 0370100298.

Bibliography

Angelucci, Enzo and Peter Bowers. The American Fighter: The Definitive Guide To American Fighter Aircraft From 1917 To The Present. New York: Orion Books, 1987. ISBN 0-517-56588-9.
Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947. London: Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
Buttler, Tony. American Secret Projects: Fighters & Interceptors 1945–1978. Hinckley, UK: Midland Publishing, 2008, First edition, 2007. ISBN 978-1-85780-264-1.
Jenkins, Dennis R. and Tony R. Landis. Experimental & Prototype U.S. Air Force Jet Fighters. North Branch, Minnesota, USA: Specialty Press, 2008. ISBN 978-1-58007-111-6.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Great Book Of Fighters: An encyclopedia of every fighter aircraft built and flown. Osceola, WI, USA: MBI Publishing Company, 2001. ISBN 0-7603-1194-3.
Knaack, Marcelle Size. Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 Post-World War II Fighters 1945–1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, 1978. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.
Pace, Steve. X-Fighters: USAF Experimental and Prototype Fighters, XP-59 to YF-23. St. Paul, Minnesota, USA: Motorbooks International, 1991. ISBN 0-87938-540-5.
Winchester, Jim. Concept Aircraft: Prototypes, X-Planes and Experimental Aircraft. Rochester, Kent, UK: Grange books plc, 2005. ISBN 1-84013-809-2.

External links

[1] Winchester 2005, pp. 72–73.

[2] Bowers, Curtiss Aircraft, pp.509-510

[3] Associated Press, "Four-Jet Fighter, Weighing as Much As B-17, Tested", San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Tuesday 2 March 1948, Volume LIV, Number 158, page 1.

[Bowers-4] Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss aircraft, 1907-1947. London: Putnam. pp. 508–510. ISBN 0370100298.

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