CFFP: Curtiss Failed Fighter Projects during WWII and later

[ysi_maniac]

 
Just those after P-40. Let my try: XP-42, XP-46, XP-53, XP-55, P-60, XP-60C, P-60D, YP-60E, XP-62, XP-71, XF-87

Please, feel free to add new apropriate projects.

I mean, we, as whiffers, should correct Curtiss' errors, shouldn't we?





I will probably begin with my own view of P-53



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_XP-55

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_XP-71 (I love this project)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_XF-87

and there are some more for the US NAVY:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_XF14C

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_XF15C

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss-Wright Here you can read the history of such failure. Think that they invented plane!

[Cliffy B]

I still think this bird was tragically overlooked as a possibility.  Would have given the USN a nice high-performance yet still long ranged scout/observation aircraft that could of served throughout the war and beyond (ASR role).



Radial powered TP-40E with floats!

[elmayerle]

A case of management having developed "hardening of the mental arteries", it's killed more than one company (NAA as a case in point).  Note that the managerial "hardening" was such that their Chief Designer, Don Berlin, went elsewhere rather than stay there.

[jcf]

I wouldn't consider the XP-42 as a failure as it succeeded admirably in it's intended role, a test airframe.
It was never a full-blown project for a new pursuit type. The XP-42 was actually the fourth production
P-36A and lasted in the test world until the summer of 1947. It tested a wide variety of cowling, cooling,
propeller and exhaust systems as well as an all-flying horizontal tail.

[GTX_Admin]

I have always liked the pugnacious look of the XF14C-2:





Would love to do one as a RAN FAA fighter.

[ysi_maniac]

^^^^^
Propelers are not equal: front prop blades are not cuffed and in second prop are cuffed. Why?

[GTX_Admin]

[kitnut617]

The engine had a very close fitting cowling, so maybe the cuffs are to enhance the airflow through it.  The R-3350 was known for it's over-heating problems at the beginning and would catch fire quite easily, and the XF14C used one of the first R-3350's

[ysi_maniac]

A case of management having developed "hardening of the mental arteries", it's killed more than one company (NAA as a case in point).  Note that the managerial "hardening" was such that their Chief Designer, Don Berliner, went elsewhere rather than stay there.

Can you be more explicit? Any website to read more details?
Thanks

[GTX_Admin]

Try here

[GTX_Admin]

speaking of the XP-55, see the following (from here):

[Logan Hartke]

Very nice profiles.  You should send the artist an invite.

Cheers,

Logan

[GTX_Admin]

You should send the artist an invite.

Working on it.

[elmayerle]

A case of management having developed "hardening of the mental arteries", it's killed more than one company (NAA as a case in point).  Note that the managerial "hardening" was such that their Chief Designer, Don Berlin, went elsewhere rather than stay there.

Can you be more explicit? Any website to read more details?
Thanks

Well, Don Berlin (note name correction) got sufficiently ticked off at Curtiss management that he left and went to GM/Fisher where he was Chief Designer on the XP-75A.

[ysi_maniac]

You should send the artist an invite.

Working on it.

I already invited him some months ago.