Next American Fighter

[Soulyss]

It would be good for scenarios, but if that is the next American fighter you'll have some seriously bummed P-61 fans.

How much structure does it share with the P-40?

Not sure in the production models exactly but Curtiss did come under some criticism when the P-40 was introduced on account of the similarities.  According to America's Hundred Thousand the XP-40  prototype was essentially a P-36 airframe mated to the Allison V-1710 engine with the required additional plumbing.  

The single prototype in the initial configuration of a P-36 airframe with an Allison V-1710 engine in shiny metal finish.  Note the aft location of the Prestone cooler in a position similar to the of the later P-51 airplane. The carburetor air intake is on the top of the cowling halfway between the propeller and the cockpit; the oil cooler intake ducting is low and forward.  The landing gear is strictly P-36 type.

[AWwrgwy]

Not sure in the production models exactly but Curtiss did come under some criticism when the P-40 was introduced on account of the similarities.  According to America's Hundred Thousand the XP-40  prototype was essentially a P-36 airframe mated to the Allison V-1710 engine with the required additional plumbing.  

(Image removed from quote.)

Curtiss came under criticism from who? They manufactured both the P-36 and P-40. I believe America's Hundred Thousand has it right.

It's like accusing John Fogerty of plagiarizing himself. Oh, wait.....

 


wrongway

[Karnak]

Curtiss came under criticism from who? They manufactured both the P-36 and P-40. I believe America's Hundred Thousand has it right.

It's like accusing John Fogerty of plagiarizing himself. Oh, wait.....

 


wrongway

I'd expect the criticism would be along the lines of Curtis having not produced a next generation fighter and instead simply having reused their prior work, not criticism of plagiarism.

[Noir]

I'm pretty sure our P36's had bigger armament, I'll look it up.

[olds442]

I'd fly it

it only had 1 50cal and 1 303 a think

[B4Buster]

Thanks WMaker!

[Krusty]

Agreed with Wrongway: There was no criticism. It was a remarkable new design. It changed the way the aircraft performed and the end result was very interesting to the US Army.

No more worthy of criticism than the P-51B being derived from the A-36.


Noir: Nope, the P-36 initially started with 1x30cal and 1x50cal in the nose...

Later models of the Hawk had, depending on the version, 30cals in the wings or 7mm in the wings and the nose guns were both .50cal.

P-36 had the lighter armament.

[HighTone]

As the poster said,i would like to see the Japanese, Italian,and Russian plane sets decked out more first. But after that, then this plane would be one that I would fly and support. Looks like a fun one, and I'm all about the early war planes.



Still holding out for the Ki-43, Ki-44, Ki-100, A6M3, J2M, N1K1, Ki-21, Ki-48, Ki-49, C.200, G.55, Re.2005, Sm.79
 

[Krusty]

Ki-43-II with only 1x7mm and 1x12.7mm option loadout would be best. And maybe a Ki-43-I with lower horsepower and 2-blade prop for early war as well. Definitely would be great to have!

(note: I only specify the guns load because it only really had the one setup based on some findings I posted about a while back)

[olds442]

As the poster said,i would like to see the Japanese, Italian,and Russian plane sets decked out more first. But after that, then this plane would be one that I would fly and support. Looks like a fun one, and I'm all about the early war planes.



Still holding out for the Ki-43, Ki-44, Ki-100, A6M3, J2M, N1K1, Ki-21, Ki-48, Ki-49, C.200, G.55, Re.2005, Sm.79
 

the sad thing is about the early war planes is the will be hanger queens with really bad guns.....i say HE177 

[HighTone]

I remember that post and agree with it. Although some had the 2x12.7mm gun pack, I do believe that it wasn't the most common. But for me any Ki-43 we might get would be tops. I'm still don't like that it lost so bad in HTC's poll for a new plane. But in the voting the Japanese fans were split, with right around 5% for both the Ki-45 and Ki-43. Wish the Japanese fans could of consolidated their votes.

[Krusty]

The only 2x7mm were training units, war weary planes removed from combat. They didn't want to waste the 12.7mm guns on non-combat planes so they put the 2x 7mms in there.


EDIT: Oh, you said 12.7mm... Well only a few examples ever had that, and they weren't even associated with any unit/squadron (they were 1-off deals apparently for some special mission)

[HighTone]

the sad thing is about the early war planes is the will be hanger queens with really bad guns.....i say HE177  

95% pilot and 5% plane. If they end up hanger queens(which is another term for planes not being easy mode and pilots looking for no challenge) then it is the pilots fault not the planes.

[Ack-Ack]

Great minds think alike Shifty   You must be getting a bit slower in your old age though.  I brought up the "Mohawk" a few days ago in my updated wishlist thread for all the same reasons

Actually, you both are pretty slow in your old age since I brought up this wish for the P-36 about 4 years ago 

ack-ack

[Soulyss]

Curtiss came under criticism from who? They manufactured both the P-36 and P-40. I believe America's Hundred Thousand has it right.

It's like accusing John Fogerty of plagiarizing himself. Oh, wait.....

 


wrongway

I believe most of the criticism came from other corporations who were in competition at the time. There's a mention of it in "Fire in The Sky" by Bergerud.

In April 1939, Congress awarded Curtiss Wright a contract to build 550 P-40's (the largest aviation contract in American history until that time), a storm of controversy erupted in aviation circles.  Other corporations accused Curtiss of simply modifying an older plane (the P-36) and wedding it to a new Allison engine.  The result, they charged, was an aircraft  that would be inferior to foreign makes.  Curtiss responded that the P-40 was a sound design and because it was based on much proven technology, could be produced quickly, economically, and in large numbers.  American, Curtiss argued, needed fighters quickly.  Better aircraft , after all, were in the pipeline already.