Kaiser-Fleetwings Model 47 (Squirt)

1944 WORLD WAR 2 X-PLANE

• 1 History of Kaiser-Fleetwings Model 47 (Squirt)
• 2 Kaiser-Fleetwings Model 47 (Squirt) Specification
  • 2.1 Base
  • 2.2 Roles
  • 2.3 Dimensions and Weight
  • 2.4 Performance
  • 2.5 Weapons

History of Kaiser-Fleetwings Model 47 (Squirt)

During World War II, Kaiser-Fleetwings, a company led by Henry J. Kaiser, entered the aviation industry. They presented various fighter designs to the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) and the U.S. Navy (USN). Their most notable project was the XBTK-1 in 1945, which had five prototypes built and tested. In February 1944, they tried to interest the U.S. Navy in their Type 47 strike/dive bomber for aircraft carriers, which aimed to combine British-American Packard "Merlin" engines with Westinghouse turbojets for enhanced power. The Type 47 featured a streamlined design with a single-seat cockpit, innovative transparent canopy, and armor for cockpit and engine protection.

The Type 47's sleek airframe had main wings located low on the fuselage, each housing an inline piston engine and a Westinghouse turbojet in nacelles. It included a three-wheeled undercarriage for ground and deck operations, along with safety gear and flaps suitable for Navy use. The design prioritized survivability with cockpit and engine armor and self-sealing fuel tanks, making it well-suited for its low-level attack role.

Kaiser-Fleetwings' foray into aviation during World War II led to the development of the Type 47, a unique strike/dive bomber concept that combined different propulsion technologies to deliver power and versatility, all while focusing on pilot safety and aircraft survivability.

Kaiser-Fleetwings Model 47 (Squirt) Specification

Base

Year of Service: 1944

Origins: United States

Status: Cancel

Crew: 1

Production: 0

Manufacturer: Kaiser Fleetwings - USA

Carrier: US (obsolete)

Roles

Air-to-air combat, fighter

The general ability to actively attack other aircraft of similar form and function, usually using guns, missiles and/or airborne missiles.

Ground attack (bombing, strafing)

The ability to conduct air strikes against ground targets using (but not limited to) artillery, bombs, rockets, rockets, etc.

Disable support (CAS)

Designed to operate near active ground elements with a wide range of air-to-surface weapon and ammunition options.

Nautical/navy

Water mobility capability for a variety of land-based or ship-based maritime missions, supported by Allied Naval Surface Forces.

X-Plane (development, prototype, tech demo)

Aircraft designed for prototyping, technology demonstration, or research/data collection.

Dimensions and Weight

Length: 59.4 feet (18.12m)

Width/span: 69.1 ft (21.05m)

Height: 17.1 ft (5.20m)

Cured weight: 20,723 lbs (9,400 kg)

MTOW: 30,005 lbs (13,610 kg)

Wgt Difference: +9,281 lbs (+4,210kg)

Performance

Installed: 2 x Packard "Merlin" liquid-cooled inline piston engines in counter-rotation drive 2 x three-bladed propeller units and 2 x Westinghouse turbojets, each producing 2,200 pounds of thrust.

Maximum speed: 401 km/h (645 km/h | 348 knots)

Maximum: 41,010 feet (12,500 m | 8 km)

Area: 2,600 km (4,185 km | 7,751 nautical miles)

Rate of climb: 5,000 ft/min (1,524 m/min)

Weapons

4 x .50 caliber Browning M2 Heavy Machine Guns (HMG) or 4 x 20mm Autocannons in the bow area.

Carry up to 4,000 pounds of bombs below the centerline of the fuselage. Assuming support for airborne missiles (underwing).