1943-1944 Very Long Range Escort Fighters

[Nico]

Hello boys,
researching the genesis of the North American P-82 Twin Mustang I found some notes (of mine) dating about twenty years ago and now I was unable to trace any source.
My note reads:
Long Range Escort Requirement
March 29, 1944 (?)
Tenders:
Bell Model 40 XP-83 (Airattler)
Consolidated Vultee Model 102 YP-81 (MX-480)
North American NA-120 XP-82 Twin Mustang (MX-485)

Someone can add something to my old research?

Nico

 

[Skybolt]

It is very probable that early research on the parasite concept (later MX-667, XP-85) was started as an unconventional solution in connection to the Very Long Range Escort Fighter requirement, for the Pacific theatre. This early work was covered by the MX-472 code. As for not-MX covered design from individual companies, I'll have to check in what I have. Already did for Lockheed, the only possible (not probable) designs were L-134 series derivatives of XP-58 Chain Lightning, some very different from the XP-58 shape. Since no performance data survived, it is only a possibility. Another possibility is Hughes (derivative or precursor of the XF-11 and/or the D-series). Hughes is known to have worked on some fighter concepts, like a Duramold version of the P-51, but on these and many other respects the archives are still to be digged.

 

[Nico]

Thanks Skybolt,
also in my opinion the development of the McDonnell XP-85 is related to the same requirement.
In my previous letter evidently Airattler was a mispelling for Airarattler and YP-81 was less correct than XP-81.
Nico

 

[lark]

In January 1944 NAA presented two proposals to the USAAF.
One being a conventional twin-engined fighter and the other
the NA-120 design which would become the Twin Mustang.

(Read in the Aeroplane Database-April 2014)

Is there any one of the Mustang/Twin Mustang specialist who have's more
info about this conventional 2 engined proposal.
Thanks in advance.

 

[J.A.W.]

Is the thread topic inclusive of the USN F7F & RAF DH Hornet twin engine types?

Or is it in regard to the P-82 being a (dedicated) twin pilot machine?

 

[hesham]

Is the thread topic inclusive of the USN F7F & RAF DH Hornet twin engine types?

Or is it in regard to the P-82 being a (dedicated) twin pilot machine?

Hi J.A.W.,


I think it was for XP-82 competition,or VLR (Very Long-Range) Escort Fighter,and it
was intended to be like Messserschmitt Bf.109Z.

 

[J.A.W.]

Thanks, H.

Was the 109Z known to the NAA team, or was the P-82 design coincidental/independently conceived?

AFAIR, the USAAF did evaluate the F7F though,
& did it fail to beat the P-82 on performance, or - political - grounds.

& was it not political ( GM/Allison lobbying in Washington) that spoiled the P/F-82s real potential?

Obviously the USAAF was jet-bent, but they still needed VLR capability that turbines could not then do..

Hence the 'Betty Jo' Hawaii-to-N.Y. record,
- but I note they didn't try to beat the Navy F8F time-to-climb stunt - with a like, juiced-up, stripper `51H..