| XP-10 | |
|---|---|
The sole Curtiss XP-10 (s/n 28-387) | |
| General information | |
| Type | Biplanefighter |
| Manufacturer | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | One |
| History | |
| Retired | 1928 |
TheCurtiss XP-10 was an Americanexperimentalbiplanefighter developed byCurtiss and tested by theUnited States Army Air Corps, but rejected due to disappointing performance and major problems with the cooling system.
Ordered on 18 June 1928, it was intended to be fast and maneuverable enough to win adogfight. The XP-10 used agull wing top wing, joined at the fuselage; this offered much better pilot visibility than the traditional biplane configuration. This also permitted the wing and fuselage to meet at the optimum angle for minimizingdrag.[1] The wings wereplywood-covered (rather thandopedfabric, as used inWorld War I), and the fuselage was fabric-covered steel tubing.
The XP-10 used a 600 hp (447 kW)Curtiss V-1570-15 Conquerorwater-cooledV12 engine. To overcome the drag of a radiator (a quite serious issue before the introduction ofethylene glycol), Curtiss incorporated it into the upper wing. It was formed of corrugated brass sheets through which cooling water was run. While ingenious, this introduced technical and mechanical problems, especially vulnerability to enemy fire in a combat aircraft.
Delivered to theArmy Air Corps in August 1928, the XP-10 first flew in September.[2] Despite excellent manoeuvrability, with the XP-10 proving superior to theCurtiss Hawk in testing,[2] persistent problems with cooling and the plumbing of the surface radiator led to the XP-10 being abandoned.

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947,[3] U.S.Fighters[2]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament