| XF3W | |
|---|---|
 Wright XF3W Apache | |
| General information | |
| Type | Racer |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Wright Aeronautical |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 5 May 1926[1] |
TheWright XF3W was an American racingaircraft built byWright Aeronautical for theUnited States Navy.
After the U.S. Navy declared its preference for radial engines, Wright developed theP-1 Simoon. To demonstrate the engine, the F3W was designed to carry it. The F3W was a single-seat biplane, with a steel tubing fuselage and wood wings, covered by fabric. Designed to be a carrier-based fighter and powered by the Simoon engine, its performance was poor. After the Navy took delivery of the aircraft, they installed a rival company's engine, thePratt & WhitneyR-1340radial. The aircraft was redesignated XF3W, and flew with the new engine for the first time on 5 May 1926.[1]
The Navy used the XF3W as a test bed for the Pratt & Whitney engine until 1930, during which time the aircraft set a number of records. On 6 September 1929, the XF3W piloted byApollo Soucek set the world altitude record forseaplanes of 38,500 ft (11,700 m); on 6 April 1930, Soucek set the landplane altitude record of 43,166 ft (13,157 m).[1] The XF3W was also fitted with a single centreline float to evaluate the concept of basingfloatplanes on battleships.[2]
Data from Angelucci, 1987. p. 462.[1]
General characteristics
Performance
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