Curtiss XP-53 (Model 88)

History of the Curtis XP-53 (Type 88)

Curtiss Aircraft sought to improve upon its classic P-40 Warhawk fighter on many routes. This eventually drove the U.S. Army's XP-46 program. The lightweight design was ultimately hampered by Army intervention and Curtis' continued commitment to the P-40 factory line.

As a result, the aircraft program was limited to two prototypes during its historical period.

Nonetheless, the engineers continued to find all the best parts in their P-40 and extended those qualities with another potential successor. This became the XP-53, known internally as the "Type 88", which piqued the Army's interest as early as April 1940 with a 6 x .50 caliber heavy machine gun (from the originally planned four-gun weapon). Estimated kerb weight is 7,650 pounds and MTOW is 10,000 pounds.

Self-sealing fuel tanks and armor should be standard. For performance, the experimental Continental XIV-1430-3 series 1,600 hp liquid-cooled inline piston engine, which spins a three-blade propeller in the nose, was selected.

In October 1940, Curtiss received an order from the U.S. Army for an airworthy prototype to justify its design. The Army pushed a second prototype of the Rolls-Royce Merlin 28 (V-1650-1) engine as insurance for the XIV-1430-3 engine in case the engine failed to meet its development goals.

The end result is an aircraft very reminiscent of the classic P-40, but with slightly longer and smoother lines. The monoplane wing structure will run under the fuselage (forward midship), with a laminar flow design and a rounded tip. The engine will be contained in the nose as usual, while the tail will be a traditional single-fin arrangement. A rear tow landing gear that is fully retractable into the design will allow the required ground running capability. The single-seat cockpit will be covered by a heavy framed roof, with the rear view dominated by a raised fuselage spine.

Three machine guns will be mounted on the leading edge of each wing outside the main landing gear outriggers. At least for a short time, it was proposed to increase the armament to four guns per wing, but this idea was stopped because it would reduce the efficiency of the wings.

The aircraft added weight accordingly and continued to deviate from its light state, dropping the already optimistically estimated speed of about 35 mph even before the prototype was declared ready. It was related to an online start issue with the Continental engine that sounded the death knell for the XP-53.

In November 1941, the XP-53 was cancelled and its existing frame was used to test the Merlin engine installation of the XP-60 program (described in detail elsewhere on this website).

Specification

Basic

Production

Roles

Dimensions

Weight

Performance

Performance

Armor

Changes