Boeing XP-15

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The Boeing XP-15 was a prototype monoplane fighter of the United States, the second to be designated a pursuit type, after the Boeing XP-9.

Design and development

This aircraft was essentially a monoplane version of the Boeing P-12, differing in having the lower wing omitted and in having all-metal construction as well as altered ailerons. The XP-15 had a split-axle undercarriage and a tail wheel.

Boeing numbered the craft as its "Model 202"; while the United States Army accepted it for testing and designated it as XP-15, they never actually purchased it, and it retained its civil registration of X-270V.

It first flew in January 1930, where it was discovered that the vertical stabilizer (a P-12C type) needed to be larger in order to compensate for the single wing. Initial testing showed a top speed to 178 mph, but with enlarged tail surfaces and a Townend cowling, it recorded 190 mph at 8,000 ft. The plane performed poorly, with a poor rate of climb and a high landing speed. The USAAC did not order the aircraft for production and on 7 February 1931 the prototype was destroyed when a propeller blade failed and the engine tore loose from its mounts.

The Navy was offered the similar "Model 205". It first flew in February 1930. It was ordered by the US Navy, but by the time flight testing was complete in 1932, other aircraft were ordered instead. It, however, the first monoplane to receive a US Navy designation, "XF5B".

Operators

;flag|United States|1912
*United States Army

Specifications (XP-15)

aerospecs
ref=Angelucci, 1987. pp. 81-82.
met or eng?=eng

crew=1
capacity=
length m=6.40
length ft=21
length in=0
span m=9.29
span ft=30
span in=6
height m=2.84
height ft=9
height in=4.5
wing area sqm=14.61
wing area sqft=157.3
empty weight kg=931
empty weight lb=2,052
gross weight kg=1,246
gross weight lb=2,746

eng1 number=1
eng1 type=Pratt & Whitney SR-1340D
eng1 kw=
eng1 hp=525
eng2 number=
eng2 type=
eng2 kw=
eng2 hp=

max speed kmh=306
max speed mph=190.2
cruise speed kmh=257
cruise speed mph=160
stall speed kmh=
stall speed mph=
range km=676
range miles=420
endurance h=
endurance min=
ceiling m=8,428
ceiling ft=27,650
g limits=
roll rate=
climb rate ms=9.15
climb rate ftmin=1800

armament1=2x .30in machine guns
armament2=
armament3=
armament4=
armament5=
armament6=

aircontent
see also=
related=
similar aircraft=
lists=

References

Bibliography

*
* Lloyd S. Jones, "U.S. Fighters" (Aero Publishers, Inc., 1975) pp. 48-49 ISBN 0-8168-9200-8

See also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
lists=
* List of military aircraft of the United States
* List of fighter aircraft

External link

* [http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2231 National Museum of the USAF page, with photo]