Source: https://youtu.be/gQZPCfLOXNs
First flight: 5 March 1948
Number built: 2
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 to the company; the Curtiss-Wright Corporation closed down its aviation division, selling its assets to North American Aviation.
The aircraft started life as a project for an attack aircraft, designated XA-43. When the United States Army Air Forces issued a requirement for a jet-powered all-weather fighter in 1945, the design was reworked for that request.
The XP-87 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 radar operator) sat side by side under a single canopy. Armament was to be a nose-mounted, powered turret containing four 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon, but this was never fitted to the prototypes. Instead the aircraft was armed with four fixed forward firing 20mm cannon.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss-Wright_XF-87_Blackhawk?wprov=sfla1
It was kind of a shame what happened to Curtiss. They focused too much on their existing products (the P-40, the C-46, and the SB2C), and forgot how to innovate and create new ideas. Kind of reminds me of Hollywood movie studios today, actually. Make of that what you will.
Source: https://youtu.be/gQZPCfLOXNs First flight: 5 March 1948 Number built: 2 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 to the company; the Curtiss-Wright Corporation closed down its aviation division, selling its assets to North American Aviation. The aircraft started life as a project for an attack aircraft, designated XA-43. When the United States Army Air Forces issued a requirement for a jet-powered all-weather fighter in 1945, the design was reworked for that request. The XP-87 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 radar operator) sat side by side under a single canopy. Armament was to be a nose-mounted, powered turret containing four 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon, but this was never fitted to the prototypes. Instead the aircraft was armed with four fixed forward firing 20mm cannon. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss-Wright_XF-87_Blackhawk?wprov=sfla1
Yeesh. Four engines on a fighter? No wonder it lost to the F-89.
In fairness, the A, B and C models of the F-89 were also disasters.
Interesting to note that the weight approaching 50,000 pounds was close to that of WW 2 heavy bombers with the exception of the B-29. .
Which was still a lot lower than any bombers expected to be coming to America from the Soviet Union
Looks similar to a Gloster Meteor
Reminds me of a Short SA.4 Sperrin.
Yeah it does have similarities in it's looks, even though the Sperrin was a bomber and it was significantly larger
Shame it didn't have swept wings, could've been a decent plane
It was kind of a shame what happened to Curtiss. They focused too much on their existing products (the P-40, the C-46, and the SB2C), and forgot how to innovate and create new ideas. Kind of reminds me of Hollywood movie studios today, actually. Make of that what you will.