IMHO these wind model tests were to research the aerodynamics of underwing jet engine pods with axial-flow jet engines. Reminds me a little of the evolution the of the B-47 Stratojet and early American axial-flow jet engines like the Westinghouse J30 engine family. No source to prove it, just my two cents.
My guess: the P-80 was relatively well characterized in its standard one-engine configuration. The idea *probably* wasn't to seriously propose a two-engine design, but just an effort to see what would happen had it had two engines of a recognized type. I suspect the end results weren't terribly impressive. More thrust, but not only was the aerodynamics blown out of kilter, but the roll rate would have been trashed due to throwing so much mass so far out from the centerline. Summary: "are two engines better than one?"
The Meteor would be harder to convert since its engines were buried in the wings. As for the P-59, it was totally obsolete and didn't fly very well to boot. The P-80 was the perfect platform for this sort of mad science aeronautical engineering project.
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