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CURTISS XP-60
The P-60 series of aircraft were the last attempts by Curtiss to build a replacement for the P-40. Previous attempts included the XP-46 and XP-53. The Army Air Corps wanted a “Merlin”-powered aircraft, so the second XP-53 was modified for the new engine and re-designated XP-60. Because the V-1650 engine was in demand for production aircraft (e.g. P-51), the P-60 underwent many modifications to test different engines more readily available. First, the Allison V-1710-75 was substituted for the Packard in the XP-60A. Next, a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-53 radial engine was tried with a contra-rotating propeller on the XP-60C. An order for 500 P-60s (26 YP-60A and 474 P-60A) was canceled in June 1943, and Curtiss built 354 P-47Gs instead.
Type Number built/
converted Remarks
XP-60 1 Improved P-40
XP-60A 3 Improved XP-60 with eight .50-cal. mgs.
YP-60A 0 Service test A model; 26 canceled
P-60A 1 Production A model; 473 canceled
XP-60B 1 (cv) Modified XP-60A with turbosupercharger
XP-60C 1 (cv) Modified XP-60A; contra-prop
XP-60D 1 (cv) Modified XP-60; engine change; four-blade prop.
XP-60E 1 (cv) Modified XP-60B; engine change; four-blade prop.
YP-60E 1 (cv) Modified P-60A; engine change; four-blade
Please note that when dealing with the P-60 series, we’re actually talking about two very different models. Only the XP-60 (Model 90/90A) and the XP-60D (Model 90B) resemble the P-40 series. The rest of the series are all Model 95 versions, which have quite a different appearance: XP-60A (Model 95A), XP-60B (Model 95B), XP-60C (Model 95C) and XP-60E (Model 95D).
From an unidentified Polish source, the two Model 90 configurations.
Curtiss XP-60C (Model 95C) technical data
Power plant: one 2,100 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-53, 18 cylinder,air-cooled radial engine, with General Electric turbo-supercharger, driving a six-bladed contra-rotating propeller with 12.1 ft of diameter, wingspan: 41.4 ft (12.62 m), length: 34 ft (10.38 m), height: 12.3 ft (3.75 m), wing area: 284 sq.ft (25.54 sq.m), maximum speed: 414 mph (666 kph), maximum weight: 11,835 lbs (5,368 kg), climb rate: 3,890 ft/min (1,186 m/min), service ceiling: 37,900 ft (11,552 m), armament: four 0.50 cal M2 wing mounted machine guns.
Curtiss XP-60E (Model 95D) technical data
Power plant: one 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10, 18 cylinder, air-cooled radial engine, with General Electric turbo-supercharger, driving a four-bladed propeller, wingspan: 41.4 ft (12.62 m), length: 33.9 ft (10.33 m), height: 12.3 ft (3.75 m), wing area: 284 sq.ft (25.54 sq.m), maximum speed: 405 mph (652 kph), maximum weight: 10,320 lbs (4,681 kg), climb rate: 4,000 ft/min (1,220 m/min), service ceiling: 38,000 ft (11,582 m), armament: four 0.50 cal M2 wing mounted machine guns with 250 rounds per gun.
Curtiss XP-60A technical data
Power plant: one 1,425 hp Allison V-1710-75, V-12, liquid-cooled engine, with General Electric B-14 turbo-supercharger, driving a four-bladed propeller, wingspan: 41.4 ft (12.62 m), length: 33.6 ft (10.25 m), height: 12.3 ft (3.75 m), wing area: 284 sq.ft (25.54 sq.m), maximum speed: 420 mph (676 kph), maximum weight: 10,172 lbs (4,608 kg), climb rate: 2,320 ft/min (708 m/min), service ceiling: 35,194 ft (10,730 m), armament: six 0.50 cal M2 wing mounted machine guns.
Curtiss YP-60E (Model 95D) technical data
Power plant: one 2,000 Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10, 18 cylinder, air-cooled radial engine, with General Electric turbo-supercharger, driving a four-bladed propeller, wingspan: 41.4 ft (12.62 m), length: 36.8 ft (11.23 m), height: 10.7 ft (3.27 m), wing area: 284 sq.ft (25.54 sq.m), maximum speed: 405 mph (652 kph), maximum weight: 11,520 lbs (5,225 kg), climb rate: 4,200 ft/min (1,280 m/min), service ceiling: 34,000 ft (10,363 m), armament: six 0.50 cal M2 wing mounted machine guns with 250 rounds per gun.