Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => Aircraft and Vehicles => Topic started by: Rutilant on October 20, 2003, 05:36:00 AM
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The heavily-armed Black Widow was this country's first aircraft specifically designed as a night fighter. In the nose, it carried radar equipment which enabled its crew of two or three to locate enemy aircraft in total darkness and fly into proper position to attack. The XP-61 was flight-tested in 1942 and delivery of production aircraft began in late 1943. The P-61 flew its first operational intercept mission as a night intruder over enemy territory. In the Pacific, a Black Widow claimed its first "kill" on the night of July 6, 1944. As P-61s became available, they replaced interim Douglas P-70s in all USAAF night fighter squadrons. During WW II, Northrop built approximately 700 P-61s; 41 of these were -Cs manufactured in the summer of 1945 offering greater speed and capable of operating at higher altitude. Northrop fabricated 36 more Black Widows in 1946 as F-15A unarmed photo-reconnaissance aircraft.
Specifications
Span: 66 ft.
Length: 49 ft. 7 in.
Height: 14 ft. 8 in.
Weight: 35,855 lbs. loaded
Armament
Four .50-cal. machine guns in upper turret and four 20mm cannons in belly; 6,400 lbs. of bombs
Engines
Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800s of 2,100 hp. each
Maximum Speed: 425 mph.
Cruising Speed: 275 mph.
Range: 1,200 miles
Service Ceiling: 46,000 ft
From http://www.angelfire.com/oh3/pmodels/bwidow.html
Conflicting information below, seems a bit more reasonable.
Developed By Country: United States
Designed By Aircraft Manufacturer: Northrop
Design YMD: 1941 01 01
In Service YMD: 1944 01 01
Crew Count: 3
Length Foot: 49.573
Height Foot: 14.633
Wingspan Foot: 66.01
Wing Area Square Foot: 662.304
Loaded Weight Pound: 29 700
Payload Pound: 6 400
Engines Count: 2
Total Engine Horsepower: 4 000
Range Mile: 2 800
Maximum Speed Mile Per Hour: 366
Ceiling Foot: 33 100
Number Produced Count: 706
Has Aircraft Class: Wheeled
Has Aircraft Role: Ground Attack | Bomber | Night Fighter
Has Aircraft Feature: Twin Tail Booms | Twin Tail Fins
Wing Loading Pressure: 218.945 Pa
Aspect Ratio Number: 6.579
Power To Weight Ratio Horsepower Per Ton: 296.799
Estimated Climb Rate Feet Per Minute: 2 221.464
(Continued)
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(http://locke.artamir.org/P61Bspecs.jpg)
From http://www.military.cz/usa/air/war/fighter/p61/p61_en.htm
(http://www.military.cz/usa/air/war/fighter/p61/p61_infl.jpg)
(http://www.military.cz/usa/air/war/fighter/p61/p61_lfront.jpg)
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(http://locke.artamir.org/P61Bspecs2.jpg)
From http://www.tgplanes.com/planfile.asp?idplane=106
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And I keep saying it, we don't need it. Better ask for some amphibious planes, or seaplanes etc.
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Originally posted by frank3
And I keep saying it, we don't need it. Better ask for some amphibious planes, or seaplanes etc.
Just like the only planes we need is a G10, P51, La7 and N1K. :rolleyes:
[Edit] Are you even subscribed?
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P61 used in WW2 had top speed of 366mph.
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Just imagine, what advantage has the nightfighter in the nights of Aces High? everyone has an Icon above his/her head which can be seen from 6000yards! All invisibility is lost with that!
So what advantage has it besides the mossie, Bf110 and A20?
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I don't care, nor want it because it's a night fighter, i want it because it's a well defended, fast, heavily armed attack aircraft!
What is so hard to understand about it?
Also, a plane doesn't NEED an advantage over any particular aircraft to be useful.
Again, do you PAY for your AH? Are you subscribed?
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well you're right there, it IS a nice plane with a great armament and it would be nice to see it in AH, but I don't think we can actually find a specific goal for it to be added.
And no, I play at h2h
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Originally posted by frank3
well you're right there, it IS a nice plane with a great armament and it would be nice to see it in AH, but I don't think we can actually find a specific goal for it to be added.
And no, I play at h2h
You realize you have very little credibility in your opinion on the planeset. You're just along for a free ride, and you're asking for new planes, or telling people what should or shouldn't be added at this point?
In any case, the P61 might have some advantage in AH2's night, because HT mentioned additions and changes to the night, such as searchlights (Woot!) If he can do that it can't be too hard to reduce icon range to 3.0 or even 1.5 at night... Which would rock. ;)
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Originally posted by Rutilant
In the Pacific, a Black Widow claimed its first "kill" on the night of July 6, 1944.
In the ETO wasnt it destined for use in the Med but was late deploying. Such that radar equipped night fighting Mosquitos were used up until early 45 instead (or in any significant number).
As said i think a major rethink on Night time needs doing 1st....
Airborne radar for certain Ju88's Me 110's, Mossies (long range dot id at night)
No icons. (very short range ones )
Search lights
increased radar delay 3/4 mins.
What would 15 x p61's do when straffing a field in the MA? If introduced there is an arguement to making it only available between dusk and dawn.
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If Night was equally as long as day, i could deal with that
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:D
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Originally posted by Rutilant
I don't care, nor want it because it's a night fighter, i want it because it's a well defended, fast, heavily armed attack aircraft!
366mph while clean is fast?
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Faster than a large portion of the planeset
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If not the P61, How about the A26 Invader?
Almost as fast, Just as well armed and can carry a load almost on par with the B17.
A26-B 6,000 lbs internally with later models upgraded for an additional 2,000 lbs on wing racks or rockets.
Would make a real nice strike aircraft.
A26 Invader has always been one of my favorite medium bombers. Used to see them all the time doing tanker drops for the forestry service during wild fires.