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Hello everyone, I’d like to suggest the Vultee XP-54 for the US aviation tech tree in War Thunder. It was a prototype interceptor developed by the Vultee Aircraft Company for the United States Army Air Forces during the pre-war period (1939-1941). It was one of the “R-40C Three” competitors that was involved in a contest against the XP-55 Ascender and the XP-56 Black Bullet. Ultimately, all did not win the competition, as each aircraft was canceled and did not enter production. The Vultee XP-54 was very interesting and one of the most innovative US aircraft designs, which is unique enough to suggest it.
Key Characteristics
- High-altitude interceptor
- Turbo-supercharged 2,300-hp Lycoming XH-2470 pusher engine
- Inverted gull wing monoplane with a tricycle flying gear
- 2 x 37-mm cannons + 2 x .50-cal. machine guns
- Hydraulically adjustable nose mounts to compensate the guns’ range
History
BackgroundOn November 27, 1939, the US Army Air Corps issued a Request for Proposal R-40C that sought a high-speed, long-range, high-altitude interceptor with improved performance, armament, and pilot visibility over existing fighters. The interceptor was to be specialized to exterminate enemy bombers. The specifications already outlined that the interceptor must be capable of reaching 20,000 feet in 7 minutes and attaining 425 mph at 15,000 to 20,000 feet. The armament would be either at least four guns or cannons. The specifications were very ambitious, and they intended to encourage manufacturers to produce innovative interceptors that would outperform any existing fighter in the era. In addition, they allowed the manufacturers to come up with unconventional radical aircraft designs.
Just 22 other manufacturers had issued proposals to meet the Army’s request; the XP-54, XP-55, and XP-56 designs were among the accepted proposals.
Design and DevelopmentVultee submitted a proposal for XP-54 design in response to the US Army Air Corps’ R-40C. Subsequently, the Vultee design received the most points in the evaluation in May 1940. On June 22, 1940, a contract for the XP-54 was placed, with a prototype being ordered at the end of the year.
The XP-54 was designed as an inverted gull-wing monoplane with a pusher engine in the rear of the fuselage, and its tail was mounted rearward between two mid-wing booms. Span was projected to be 40.0 feet, 37.5 feet long, and 9,055 pounds gross. Armament was planned to be two .30- and two .50-cal. machine guns and a pair of 20-mm cannons, all in the nose. The aircraft was estimated to attain 525 mph at 15,000 feet to 20,000 feet with military power. The Pratt & Whitney X-1800 engine was proposed as the powerplant, rated at 1,850 horsepower.
During 1941, after the preliminary design and wind-tunnel testing with the mockup, the original design had to be extensively redesigned, as the XP-54 was required to have a turbo-supercharger system, pressurized cockpit, beefier armament, and heavier armor added. Consequently, the aircraft’s weight was estimated to have increased to 18,000 pounds with these features, and its armament was changed to 37-mm cannons and .50-cal. machine guns. Due to development issues, the liquid-cooled Lycoming XH-2470 engine, rated at 2,300 horsepower, was substituted for the planned X-1800 engine. The new engine was heavier than Vultee had intended for the airframe, so the redesign had to be pursued. The plan to install contra-rotating propellers was considered but later dropped. The estimated peak speed was downgraded to 476 mph at 30,000 feet and eventually revised to 403 mph.
The redesigned XP-54 featured unique designs. The pressurized cockpit required an entry from the ground for the cockpit access. The pilot’s seat acted as an electrical elevator, and it could be lowered, sat in, and raised into the cockpit. In events of bailout and emergency, the pilot would have to bail out via a downward ejection to clear the propeller arc. The nose section had mounts that could also hydraulically pivot in elevation, from 3 degrees up to 6 degrees down, to compensate for the range of the guns. a special compensating gun sight was used to control the movement of these nose mounts. The gun sight functions included controls via the yoke and throttle, values, and symbology projected onto the combiner glass. This large nose section of the XP-54 earned its nickname, the Swoose Goose.
Flight TestingsBy September 1941, a second prototype was ordered and scheduled to be delivered on March 17, 1942. The prototype was built and delivered on July 1, 1942, but it did not fly until January 15, 1943, as Vultee was working on an additional project of the A-35 Vengeance development. Flight tests of the prototype (41-1210) with an Olive Drab camouflage began on January 15, 1943, out of Muroc Army Airfield Base, California. However, this aircraft was temporarily equipped with a Curtiss propeller that reduced performance. The aircraft completed a 31-minute flight, and it was uneventful until it began to experience the malfunction of the Curtiss propeller. The faulty propeller was immediately replaced by a Hamilton-Standard propeller.
By March 11, 1943, the aircraft had completed its tenth flight, and it revealed that its performance did not meet expectations. Although the XP-54’s unique wing features and turbo-superchargers allowed it to reach impressive altitudes, the experimental engine proved volatile due to overheating issues. The Vultee engineers introduced changes to the aircraft by enlarging vertical tails to remedy fin stall and extending the top leading edge forward, revising an exhaust behind the cockpit, and installing steel cowls aft of the turbo exhausts to prevent overheating of the structure. After the engine change, the aircraft was ferried to Ontario Army Airfield Base, California, and testing continued there and at Vultee Field. The aircraft was then flown to Wright Field on October 28, 1943. At arrival, this aircraft had completed 63.2 hours in 86 flights. However, the Lycoming engine developed serious problems after it broke down on takeoff, and the engine had to be returned to the manufacturer for repairs. The repair costs were found to be very costly. The Allison V-2420 engine was proposed to replace the Lycoming engine, but it required substantial airframe changes, which would set the project back further. Consequently, the aircraft was out of action and would never fly again after scraping away.
The second prototype (42-108994) with a natural-metal finish was built but delayed by the need to change from the Wright Type B turbo-supercharger system to an experimental General Electric XCM turbo-supercharger system. However, on May 25, 1943, the US Army Air Forces decided there would be no production order for the P-54s. Nevertheless, the aircraft was delivered by May 24, 1944, and began flying that day. This aircraft had the armament installation and continued for testing. The aircraft made a 20-minute flight from Downey to Ontario, California. The overall performance of the loaded aircraft fell below the expectation, as the top speed was only 381 mph. This aircraft would go through a thorough cleanup of the design. The aircraft flew nine more times, and it was able to reach 404 mph at 28,000 feet. Its last flight was on April 2, 1945, without firing any guns. The combination of the engine and experimental turbo-superchargers was unsatisfactory, as the aircraft experienced catastrophic engine failure and broke down. The aircraft was returned to the manufacturer before being stripped of essential parts. The aircraft only flew ten flights for 10.7 hours.
EpilogueThe XP-54 was the last project that the Vultee Aircraft Company attempted to deliver for the US Army Air Force under its name. In June 1943, Vultee was merged with Consolidated to form Consolidated Vultee Aircraft Corporation. This name was later officially renamed and registered as Convair in 1954 when it was purchased and became a division of General Dynamics.
Although the XP-54 had the most innovative features in its design, it would never enter production, as the engine issues and inadequate performance were attributed to the failure. However, development complexes, delays, and cost overruns were so prohibitive that they already had doomed the entire project. Also, the effectiveness of conventional aircraft designs during World War II, such as the P-38 Lightning, P-47 Thunderbolt, and P-51 Mustang, made the XP-54’s specialized mission redundant. Despite its doomed failure, the XP-54 remained one of the important aircraft in US aviation history since it became an existing pioneer of innovative aircraft designs during the pre-war era.
Specifications
Vultee XP-54General Characteristics
- Crew: 1 (Pilot)
- Length: 54 ft 8.75 in (16.68 m)
- Height: 14 ft 6 in (4.42 m)
- Span: 53 ft 10 in (16.41 m)
- Wing area: 455.5 sq ft (42.36 sq m)
- Propeller Type: 4-bladed pusher propeller
- Propeller Diameter: 12 ft 2 in (3.71 m)
- Powerplant: Lycoming XH-2470 liquid-cooled piston engine with turbo-superchargers
→ 2,300 hp- Empty Weight: 15,260 lb (6,923 kg)
- Gross Weight: 18,230 lb (8,278 kg)
- Max. Takeoff Weight: 19,340 lb (8,770 kg)
- Internal Fuel: 395 US gal. (1,495 L)
Performance
- Power-to-Weight Ratio: 0.13 hp/lb (213W/kg)
- Sea level Speed: 290 mph (467 km/h)
- Critical Altitude Speed:
- 403 mph @ 12,000 ft (649 km/h @ 3,658 m)
- 381 mph @ 28,500 ft (613 hm/h @ 8,687 m)
- Wing Loading: 40.02 lb/sq ft (195.4 kg/sq m)
- Rate of Climb: 2,300 fpm (11.7 m/s)
- Time to Altitude:
- 17.3 minutes to 26,000 ft (7,925 m)
- 27.7 minutes to 32,100 ft (9,784 m)
- Service Ceiling: 37,000 ft (11,278 m)
- Combat Range: 500 miles (805 km)
Armament
- Guns:
- 2 x 37-mm Oldsmobile T-9 cannons (60 rpg; 120 rounds)
- 2 x .50-cal. M2 Browning Machine Guns (500 rpg; 1,000 rounds)
Conclusion | Why it should be in the game
The Vultee XP-54 was an unconventional and radical aircraft designed during World War II. Although its design was innovative and had features that were advanced for its time, the XP-54 project faced severe setbacks and never made it to the mass production phase. Nonetheless, I feel the aircraft could serve as an excellent interceptor in War Thunder, as it would effectively hunt the bombers down with a pair of 37-mm cannons via adjustable nose mounts. Since it had a considerably bad climb performance, it could be compensated with an air spawn designated with the interceptor role to allow for the headstart. Thus, the XP-54 would be best to add as the premium or event aircraft since it was in the same competition as the XP-55 Ascender.
- World War Two Fact Files - United States Army Air Force Fighters Part 2 (1978)
- Fighters of the United States Air Force: From World War I Pursuits to the F-117 (1990)
- U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945 (2008)
- Vultee XP-54
- The Vultee XP-54 "Swoose Goose": A Missed Opportunity? - Jets ’n’ Props
- Vultee XP-54: The Pusher Plane That Failed to Impress
- Vultee XP-54 Swoose Goose Single-Seat, Twin-Boom Fighter Prototype Aircraft
- Vultee XP-54 - Wikipedia
Thank you for taking the time to read my suggestion! 😃