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Description
| Manufacturer: | Northrop | |
| Base model: | P-61 | |
| Designation: | XP-61 | |
| Version: | E | |
| Nickname: | Black Widow | |
| Designation System: | U.S. Air Force | |
| Designation Period: | 1925-1947 | |
| Basic role: | Pursuit | |
| Status: | Experimental | |
| Crew: | 2 | |
Specifications
| Length: | 51' 0" | 15.5 m | |
| Height: | 14' 8" | 4.4 m | |
| Wingspan: | 66' | 20.1 m | |
| Empty Weight: | 21,350 lb | 9,682 kg | |
| Max Weight: | 46,181 lb | 20,943 kg | |
Propulsion
| No. of Engines: | 2 | ||
| Powerplant: | Pratt & Whitney R-2800-6573 | ||
| Horsepower (each): | 2000 | ||
Performance
| Range: | 2,550 miles | 4,106 km | |
| Max Speed: | 376 mph | 605 km/h | 327 kt |
| Ceiling: | 30,000 ft | 9,143 m | |
Recent comments by our visitors
| Steven High Austin, TX | The XP-61E was an attempt to convert the Black Widow into a Long-Range Escort for the B-29. Apparently, all those Bf-110s the RAF drove out of the English sky had failed to make an impression. Go figure. In any event, the 2 XP-61E a/c were converted P-61B10 models (s/n 42-39549 & 42-39557). The fuselage nacelle was rebuilt w/out the upper Radar station or the top gun barbette, the radar was removed from the nose and replaced w/4 .50 HMGs. The crew2 was reduced to 2, seated in tandem under a single sliding canopy. Some sources claim this was the "largest blown plexiglas structure" of its day, but that I cannot confirm. Additional fuel tanks were added to give the necessary range. There seems to have been a XP-61F proposal, being a similar conversion of the P-61C, but the changing war situation eliminated the need for such a/c. 07/31/2004 @ 20:09 [ref: 7950] |
