Curtiss XP-31 Swift

Curtiss XP-31 Swift
XP-31 Swift
Curtiss XP-31 in test flight (U.S. Air Force photo)
Role Experimental monoplane fighter
Manufacturer Curtiss
First flight 1933
Introduction 1933
Primary user United States Army Air Corps
Number built 1

The Curtiss XP-31 Swift (company model XP-934) was a 1930s American experimental monoplane fighter built by Curtiss for the United States Army Air Corps.

Although the XP-31 featured the first enclosed cockpit on a U.S. pursuit aircraft, it was also the last pursuit aircraft to have fixed landing gear and externally braced wings. Despite its innovations, the XP-31 did not offer any advantages compared to its rival the Boeing P-26 and was not ordered into series production.

Contents

Design and development

Curtiss offered the XP-31 (given the Wright Field Project Number XP-934) in a 1932 competition with the P-26. It was a low-wing monoplane with fixed, strut-braced landing gear, first flown in July. It was the AAC's first single-seat closed-cockpit fighter, and the last with fixed gear and wing struts. Despite its quite small size, it was badly overweight, and carried 125 gal (104 Imp gal, 474 l) fuel. Although Curtiss considered the design significant in that it introduced various new technologies, compared to its contemporaries, the XP-31 was already outmoded, and, more importantly, testing showed that it fell below performance expectations.[1]

The Curtiss XP-934 in its original radial engine configuration

Testing and evaluation

Powered by a 700 hp (520 kW) R-1750 Cyclone radial, its performance was dismal, despite retractable leading-edge slots and large trailing-edge flaps, so a 600 hp (450 kW) Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror was substituted. In this form, the Curtiss XP-31 Swift (s/n 33-178) was delivered on 1 March 1933, having already lost to the P-26. The sole example was scrapped in 1935.[1]

Operators

 United States

Specifications

Data from U.S. Fighters: Army-Air Force 1925 to 1980s[2] and Fighters of the United States Air Force[1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 1 pilot
  • Length: 26 ft 3 in (8 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft in (11 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 9 in (2.4 m)
  • Wing area: 203 ft2 (18.86 m2)
  • Empty weight: 3,334 lb (1,512 kg)
  • Gross weight: 4,143 lb (1879 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror water-cooled 12-cylinder vee engine, 600 hp (450 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 208 mph (335 km/h)
  • Range: 370 miles (595 km)
  • Service ceiling: 24,400 ft (7,437 m)

Armament

  • 2 × fixed, forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in cowl
  • 2 × fixed, forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in cheeks

Related lists

References

Notes
  1. ^ a b c Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 60.
  2. ^ Jones 1975, p. 81.
Bibliography
  • Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
  • Donald, David, ed. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
  • Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1990. ISBN 0-60055-094-X.
  • Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Fighters: Army-Air Force 1925 to 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, 1975. ISBN 0-8168-9200-8.
  • Pedigree of Champions: Boeing Since 1916, Third Edition. Seattle, Washington: The Boeing Company, 1969.
v · d · eUSAAS/USAAC/USAAF/USAF fighter designations 1924–1962
Pursuit (pre-1948)
Fighter (post-1948)

P-1 • P-2 • P-3 • XP-4 • P-5 • P-6 • XP-7 • XP-8 • XP-9 • XP-10 • P-11 • P-12 • XP-13 • XP-14 • XP-15 • P-16 • XP-17 • XP-18 • XP-19 • YP-20 • XP-21 • XP-22 • XP-23 • YP-24 • Y1P-25 • P-26 • YP-27 • Y1P-28 • P-29 • P-30 • XP-31 • XP-32 • XP-33 • XP-34 • P-35 • P-36 • XP-37 • P-38 • P-39 • P-40 • XP-41 • XP-42 • P-43 • P-44 • XP-45 • XP-46 • P-47 • XP-48 • XP-49 • XP-50 • P-51 • XP-52 • XP-53 • XP-54 • XP-55 • XP-56 • XP-57 • XP-58 • P-59 • YP-60 • P-61/RF-61C • XP-62 • P-63 • P-64 • XP-65 • P-66 • XP-67 • XP-68 • XP-69 • P-70 • XP-71 • XP-72 • XP-73 • (P-74 not assigned) • P-75 • XP-76 • XP-77 • XP-78 • XP-79 • P-80 • XP-81 • P-82 • XP-83 • P-84 • XP-85 • P-86/F-86D • XP-87 • XP-88 • P-89 • XF-90 • XF-91 • XF-92 • YF-93 • F-94 • YF-95 • YF-96 • F-97 • XF-98 • F-99 • F-100 • F-101 • F-102 • XF-103 • F-104 • F-105 • F-106 • F-107 • XF-108 • XF-109 • F-110 • F-111/F-111B
Pursuit, Biplace

PB-1 • PB-2 • XPB-3
Fighter, Multiplace

YFM-1 • XFM-2
See also: F-24 (redesignation of A-24 in 1948) • F-117 • Post-1962 list
v · d · eAircraft produced by Curtiss and Curtiss-Wright
Manufacturer
designations

No. 1 • No. 2

Model letters: C • D • E • F • G • GS • H • J • K • L • M • N • PN • JN • R • S

Model numbers: 1 • 2 • 3 • 4 • 5 • 6 • 7 • 8 • 9 • 10 • 11 • 12 • 13 • 14 • 16 • 17 • 18 • 19 • 20 • 21 • 23 • 24 • 26 • 28 • 31 • 32 • 33 • 34 • 35 • 36 • 37 • 38 • 39 • 40 • 41 • 42 • 43 • 44 • 47 • 48 • 49 • 50 • 51 • 52 • 53 • 54 • 55 • 56 • 57 • 58 • 59A/59B • 60 • 61 • 62 • 63 • 64 • 66 • 67 • 68 • 69 • 70 • 71 • 72 • 73 • 75 • 76 • 77 • 79 • 81 • 82 • 84 • 85 • 86 • 87 • 88 • 90 • 91 • 94 • 95 • 96 • 97 • 98 •

"CW" models: CW-1 • CW-2 • CW-3 • CW-4 • CW-5 • CW-6 • CW-7 • CW-8 • CW-9 • CW-10 • CW-11 • CW-12 • CW-14 • CW-15 • CW-16 • CW-17 • CW-18 • CW-19 • CW-20 • CW-21 • CW-22 • CW-23 • CW-24 • CW-25 • CW-27 • CW-29 • CW-32

X-100 • X-200
By role

Experimental: No. 1 • Model C • Tanager

Racing: No. 2 • CR • R2C • R3C

General utility: Model D • Model E • Model F • Robin • Thrush

Maritime patrol: Model H • HS-1L and -2L

Training: Model L • Model JN • Fledgling • AT-4 Hawk • AT-5 Hawk

Naval Training: NC • N2C

Fighters: 18 • PW-8 • P-1 • P-2 • P-3 • P-4 • P-5 • P-6 • XP-31 • P-36 • P-40 • XP-46 • XP-53 • YP-60 • XP-62 • XP-71 • XP-87

Naval Fighters: HA • FC • F2C • F3C • F4C • F6C • F7C • F8C • F9C • F10C • F11C • XF12C • F13C • XF14C • XF15C

Airliners: Eagle • Condor II • Kingbird

Naval Scouts/Dive Bombers: CS • GS • S2C • XS3C • S4C • SC • SBC • SB2C • XSB3C • SOC • SO2C • SO3C

Observation: O-1 • O-12 • O-13 • O-16 • O-18 • O-26 • O-39 • O-40 • O-52

Naval Observation: OC • O2C • O3C

Bombers: Canada • B-2

Naval Bombers: 24 • BFC • BF2C • XBTC • XBT2C

Ground Attack: A-3 • A-4 • A-5 • A-6 • A-8 • YA-10 • A-12 • YA-14 • A-25 • A-40 • XA-43

Licensed production: NBS-1
v · d · eLists relating to aviation
General
Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · Timeline
Military
Accidents/incidents
Records

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Curtiss CT-1 — Role Torpedo Bomber National origin United States Manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company First flight 1921 Number built 1 The Curtiss CT 1 model 24, a twin engine torpedo bomber mo …   Wikipedia

  • XP-31 Swift — Infobox Aircraft name=XP 31 Swift caption=Curtiss XP 31 in test flight (U.S. Air Force photo) type=Experimental monoplane fighter manufacturer=Curtiss designer= first flight=1933 introduced=1933 retired= status= primary user=United States Army… …   Wikipedia

  • Glenn Curtiss — For the basketball player, see Glenn Curtis. Glenn Hammond Curtiss Grande Semaine d Aviation in France in 1909 Born May 21, 1878 Hammondsport, New York Died …   Wikipedia

  • James Curtiss — (né en avril 1803 – mort le 2 novembre 1859) était un homme politique américain qui fut à deux reprises maire de la ville de Chicago de 1847 à 1848 et de 1850 à 1851. Il était également membre du Parti démocrate. De New York, Curtiss est arrivé à …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Tom Swift — is the young protagonist in several series of juvenile adventure novels which began in the early twentieth century and continues to the present. Each such series stars a hero named Tom Swift who is a genius inventor and whose breakthroughs in… …   Wikipedia

  • Tom Swift — and His Motor Cycle (1910) (Tom Swift et sa motocyclette, le premier livre de Tom Swift. Tom Swift (dans certaines versions Tom …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Aeroplane Monthly — Aeroplane Aeroplane Monthly Pays  Royaume Uni Langue Anglais Périodicité Mensuel …   Wikipédia en Français

  • flight, history of — ▪ aviation Introduction  development of heavier than air flying machines. Important landmarks and events along the way to the invention of the airplane include an understanding of the dynamic reaction of lifting surfaces (or wings), building… …   Universalium

  • Mayor of Chicago — Seal of City of Chicago …   Wikipedia

  • List of military aircraft of the United States — This list of military aircraft of the United States includes prototype, pre production and operational types. For aircraft in service, see the List of active United States military aircraft. Prototypes are normally prefixed with X and are often… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
… Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”