| XP-49 | |
|---|---|
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| General information | |
| Type | Fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Corporation |
| Designer | |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Number built | 1 |
| History | |
| First flight | 11 November 1942 |
| Developed from | Lockheed P-38 Lightning |
TheLockheed XP-49 (companyModel 522) was an advancement on theP-38 Lightning for a fighter in response toU.S. Army Air Corps proposal 39-775. Intended to use the new 24-cylinderPratt & Whitney X-1800 engine, this proposal, which was for an aircraft substantially similar to the P-38, was assigned the designationXP-49, while the competing Grumman Model G-46 was awarded second place and designatedXP-50.
Ordered in October 1939 and approved on January 8, 1940, the XP-49 was to feature a pressurized cockpit and armament of two 20 mm (0.79 in) cannon and four .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns. Two months into the contract, a decision was made to substitute theContinentalXI-1430-1 (or IV-1430) for the X-1800. The XP-49,40-3055, first flew on 11 November 1942. The prototype force-landed on 1 January 1943, when the port landing gear failed to lock down due to combined hydraulic and electrical system failures.[1] The XP-49 next flew 16 February 1943, after repairs were made. Preliminary flight data showed performance was not sufficiently better than the production P-38, especially given the questionable future of the XI-1430 engine, to warrant disruption of the production line to introduce the new model aircraft.[citation needed] Consideration of quantity production was therefore abandoned.
The aircraft was flown toWright Field, and after various problems, further work on the XP-49 was halted, and Lockheed focused their energies on improving the P-38 instead.
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
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