XF-87 Blackhawk

infobox Aircraft
name = XF-87 Blackhawk



caption =
type = Interceptor
manufacturer = Curtiss-Wright
designer =
first flight = 5 March avyear|1948
introduction =
retired =
status = Cancelled 10 October 1948
primary user =
more users =
produced =
number built = 2
unit cost = US$11.3 million for the programKnaack, 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.]
variants with their own articles =

The Curtiss-Wright XF-87 Blackhawk (previously designated the XA-43 and XP-87) was a prototype American all-weather jet fighter interceptor and the company's last aircraft project. [ Winchester 2005, p. 72-73.] 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; 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 Force issued a requirement for a jet-powered night and all-weather fighter in 1945, the design was reworked for that request.

The "XP-87" as it was then designated 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 radio operator) sat side by side under a single canopy. Armament was to be a nose-mounted, powered turret containing four 20 mm cannon, but this was never fitted to the prototypes.

Operational history

The first flight was on 5 March 1948. 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 planes 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 replaced by two General Electric J47-GE-7 jets in production models. One of the two XF-87 prototypes was to be converted to the new powerplants for test purposes.

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.

pecifications (XF-87)

aircraft specifications

plane or copter?=plane
jet or prop?=jet

crew=two - pilot, radio operator
length main=62 ft
length alt=18.9 m
span main=60 ft
span alt=18.3 m
height main=20 ft 4 in
height alt=6.2 m
area main=600 ft²
area alt=55.7 m²

empty weight main=25,930 lb
empty weight alt=11,760 kg
loaded weight main=
loaded weight alt=
max takeoff weight main=49,900 lb
max takeoff weight alt=22,600 kg

engine (jet)= Westinghouse XJ34-WE-7
type of jet= turbojets
number of jets=4
thrust main=3,000 lbf
thrust alt=13 kN

max speed main=600 mph
max speed alt=970 km/h
range main=1000 miles
range alt=1,600 km
ceiling main=41,000 ft
ceiling alt=12,500 m
climb rate main=
climb rate alt=
loading main=
loading alt=
thrust/weight= 0.12

armament=
*4 x 20 mm cannon in nose turret (never fitted)

ee also

aircontent
related=

similar aircraft=
* F-89 Scorpion
* Yakovlev Yak-25

lists=
* List of attack aircraft
* List of fighter aircraft
* List of military aircraft of the United States

see also=

References

* Pace, Steve. "X-Fighters: USAF Experimental and Prototype Fighters, XP-59 to YF-23". Oscela, Wisconsin: 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

* [http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p87.html Curtiss XP-87/XF-87 Blackhawk]
* [http://fire.prohosting.com/hud607/uncommon/aircraft/f-87/index.html Uncommon Aircraft: XF-87 Blackhawk]
* [http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/KleinBernhard/5426.htm Several pictures of the XF-87 "45-59600"]