Cessna Models P-1 to P-4 Interceptor Pursuits

[lucamax]

Hi friends!
Here I post a 3-view of the 1938 fighter "Model P.3" taken from the book "Cessna - A Master's Expression - by Edward H. Phillips".
I hope you'll like it!

 

[cluttonfred]

Neat, thanks for sharing. It's easy to see how that design could have evolved into a competent lightweight fighter along the lines of the Nakajima Ki-43 Hayabusa.

 

[CostasTT]

Looks wise it's pretty similar to the Nakajima Ki-27.

 

[Stargazer]

Very nice! Unknown Cessna projects do not come up very often into the light.

 

[Hawker Nut]

Thanks for posting this interesting project. Looks a little bit passé for 1938. It also bears a striking resemblance to the Romanian IAR 15 fighter prototype, flown in 1933: http://www.aviastar.org/air/romania/iar-15.php

 

[Stargazer]

The text from the book Cessna—A Master's Expression quoted in the first post reads:

Dubbed the P-3, there were four versions originally planned, each one differing in powerplant, wood or metal construction and fixed or retractable gear.​

However, it's wrong. There were four pursuit variants planned, but only one of the P-3. The same basic pursuit design was designated either P-1, P-2, P-3 or P-4, depending on the engine and wing construction:

1. Cessna Model P-1 powered with Single Row Wasp S2H-1, 9 cylinder engine. The fuselage will be of steel tube construction, fabric covered, and wing two spruce spars with plywood cover. (This will be refered to as the BASIC model). (See our Drawing P-10020.)
2. Cessna Model P-2 powered with Single Row Wasp S2H-1, 9 cylinder engine. The fuselage will be of steel tube construction, fabric covered, and wing of metal construction, fabric covered.
3. Cessna Model P-3 powered with Twin Row Wasp SB4-G, 14 cylinder engine. The fuselage will be of steel tube construction, fabric covered, and wing two spruce spars with plywood cover. (See our Drawing P-30020.)
4. Cessna Model P-4 powered with Twin Row Wasp SB4-G, 14 cylinder engine. The fuselage will be of steel tube construction, fabric covered, and wing of metal construction, fabric covered.

The assertion that the landing gear was either fixed or retractable depending on the versions is also wrong: only a retractable gear was considered for all four versions.

It will be noted that Models P-2, P-3 and P-4 are highly similar to the BASIC Model, P-1, therefore only the details of the BASIC Model will be discussed. The airplane is of the single seat pursuit type with wing and tail group structure being full cantilever.​

Source:​

BID PROPOSAL--INTERCEPTOR PURSUITS​

Bid submitted by: Cessna Aircraft Co., Inc., Wichita, Kansas, U. S. A.​

(see full document in attachments)​