Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet

History of Northrop XP-56 Black Bullets

The XP-56 "Black Bullet" is a "Track Fighter" developed by Northrop on a proposal from the United States Army Air Forces (USAAC), known as the "R-40C". This compact fighter became another advanced WWII-era fighter for the Americans and focused on the flying-wing concept and "propulsion" propulsion configuration.

The thruster arrangement contrasted with the widely accepted "pull-rod" arrangement on many conventional piston-engined aircraft of the time. This proposal (and subsequent airworthy aircraft) seeks to define the inherent advantages, if any, of the propulsion configuration.

Unfortunately, the Black Bullet was of little value, and the plane was never used in mass production.

The XP-56 has a large area wing with the outboard section swept down and attached to a rather short fuselage. The engine's air intake is through an air intake integrated directly into the leading edge of the main aircraft to power the engine buried in the rear of the fuselage. A single vertical stabilizer is located at the rear of the aircraft, and there is also a ventral protrusion. The cockpit is mounted forward, allowing the pilot to dominate the nose, his rear view blocked by the raised fuselage spine.

The tricycle landing gear (fully retractable) completes the list of modern design features.

Power comes from a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-29 engine producing 2,000 horsepower and driving a three-bladed propeller unit.

Proposed weapons include 2 x 20mm cannons and 4 x .50 caliber machine guns, possibly all nose or wings mounted or both.

The

Black Bullet was originally flown as a prototype on September 23, 1943, although the aircraft was eventually lost on the ground during a high-speed exercise that same year. A second prototype followed on March 23, 1944, with several improvements to the original design, including a yaw control system and a larger area vertical stabilizer.

This example went through a series of tests that ultimately showed that the aircraft, in its unique design and layout, did not offer real performance advantages over conventionally arranged propeller-driven fighter jets. In addition, advances in jet fighter portability help thwart such plans.

As such, the XP-56 program was limited to two prototypes, the second ending its days as a museum piece. All development of the XP-56 ended in January 1946.

When complete, the XP-56's dimensions include a length of 27.5 feet, a wingspan of 42.5 feet, and a height of 11 feet. It has a curb weight of 8,700 pounds and a maximum takeoff weight (MTOW) of 12,145 pounds.

Performance specifications for the existing PW engine include a top speed of 465 mph, a range of up to 660 miles, a service ceiling of up to 33,000 feet and a rate of climb of 3,125 feet per minute.

Specification

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