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Curtiss XP-53 / XP-60 / XP-60D

XP-53

The Curtiss XP-53 was a proposed fighter aircraft developed by Curtiss-Wright Corporation during World War II. However, it never progressed beyond the design stage and was never built or flown.

The XP-53 was intended to be a high-altitude interceptor capable of engaging enemy bombers at altitudes of up to 50,000 feet. It was designed around a powerful Pratt & Whitney X-1800 liquid-cooled engine that was capable of generating 2,300 horsepower.

The aircraft featured a sleek, streamlined fuselage with a bubble canopy for improved visibility. It was armed with six .50 calibre machine guns mounted in the nose, as well as a pair of 20mm cannons mounted in the wings.

Despite its promising design, the XP-53 never progressed beyond the mock-up stage due to a number of factors, including the cancellation of the Pratt & Whitney X-1800 engine program and the development of other, more advanced fighter aircraft such as the P-51 Mustang and P-47 Thunderbolt.

XP-60

The Curtiss XP-60 was an experimental fighter aircraft developed by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation in the early 1940s.

It was designed as a high-altitude interceptor, capable of reaching speeds of up to 400 mph (640 km/h) and altitudes of over 40,000 ft (12,200 m).

The XP-60 was powered by an Allison V-1710 liquid-cooled engine and was armed with four 0.50-caliber machine guns.

The XP-60D was a further development of the XP-60, featuring a redesigned airframe and a more powerful Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine.

It also had a more streamlined canopy and a larger vertical stabilizer.

XP-60D

The XP-60D was capable of reaching speeds of up to 460 mph (740 km/h) and had a service ceiling of 41,600 ft (12,680 m).

Like the XP-60, it was armed with four 0.50-caliber machine guns.

Despite promising performance during testing, both the XP-60 and XP-60D were ultimately cancelled in favour of other aircraft designs.

The XP-60D was eventually re-designated as the XP-72, which also failed to enter production.

Full Specifications

XP-53

Specifications for the aircraft, However are based on the proposed design, here are some estimated specifications:

Crew

1 pilot

Length

36 ft (11 m)

Wingspan

44 ft (13.4 m)

Height

12 ft (3.7 m)

Empty weight

8,500 lb (3,856 kg)

Max take-off weight

12,000 lb (5,443 kg)

Engine

Pratt & Whitney X-1800 liquid-cooled engine

Power

2,300 hp (1,715 kW)

Maximum speed

Estimated to be around 500-550 mph (800-885 km/h)

Service ceiling

Estimated to be around 50,000 ft (15,240 m)

Range

Estimated to be around 500-600 miles (805-965 km)

Armament

6 x .50 calibre machine guns, 2 x 20mm cannons.

Curtiss XP-60

Crew

1

Length

32 ft 7 in (9.93 m)

Wingspan

44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)

Height

10 ft 2 in (3.10 m)

Wing area

254 sq ft (23.6 m2)

Empty weight

5,900 lb (2,680 kg)

Gross weight

8,122 lb (3,686 kg)

Powerplant

1 × Allison V-1710-75 liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,325 hp (988 kW)

Maximum speed

408 mph (657 km/h, 355 kn) at 22,000 ft (6,700 m)

Range

1,025 mi (1,650 km, 891 nmi)

Service ceiling

41,500 ft (12,649 m)

Armament

4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns

Curtiss XP-60D

Crew

1

Length

34 ft 9 in (10.59 m)

Wingspan

44 ft 0 in (13.41 m)

Height

11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)

Wing area

255 sq ft (23.7 m2)

Empty weight

6,773 lb (3,072 kg)

Gross weight

9,165 lb (4,160 kg)

Powerplant

1 × Pratt & Whitney R-2800-43 radial engine, 2,000 hp (1,491 kW)

Maximum speed

460 mph (740 km/h, 400 kn) at 24,000 ft (7,300 m)

Range

1,050 mi (1,690 km, 910 nmi)

Service ceiling

41,600 ft (12,680 m)

Armament

4 × 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns

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