Republic XP-69

Last updated
XP-69
Republic XP-69 mockup in wind tunnel.jpg
XP-69 model during wind tunnel testing
RoleFighter
Manufacturer Republic Aviation
Designer Alexander Kartveli
StatusCanceled
Primary user United States Army Air Forces (intended)
Number built1 (incomplete)

The Republic XP-69 was an American fighter aircraft proposed by Republic Aviation in 1941 in response to a requirement by the United States Army Air Corps for a high-speed fighter. Manufacturers were encouraged to consider unorthodox designs; although the design was ordered as a prototype it was canceled because of delays with the engine that was to power it.

Contents

Development

The United States Army Air Corps began the R40-C fighter competition in February 1940. The competition encouraged manufacturers to propose unorthodox high-speed fighter aircraft that met the requirements of Type Specification XC-622. [1] The specification called for a single-engined high-performance fighter aircraft, with a maximum speed between 425 and 525 mph (684 and 845 km/h), armed with both machine guns and cannons, and be capable of landing on a 3,000 ft (910 m) long grass runway. [2]

Republic was one of six companies selected for the competition, and one of the aircraft proposed to the USAAC by Republic was the AP-12 Rocket. As proposed, the AP-12 was to be powered by a 2,500 hp Wright R-2160-3 Tornado 42-cylinder liquid-cooled radial engine mounted in the mid-section of the aircraft's streamlined, cigar-shaped fuselage, behind the cockpit, which drove a pair of three-bladed contra-rotating propellers. [1] [3] It was to be armed with four nose-mounted machine guns firing through the propeller arc, and a single 20 mm cannon firing through the propeller hub. [1] The AP-12 placed 13th out of 26 contestants, forcing Republic to go back to the drawing board to improve its proposal. [1]

In July 1941, Republic submitted an improved design, the AP-18. The AP-18 had little in common with the AP-12. It retained the original aircraft's R-2160 engine, which was now mounted in the nose of a completely new small-cross section airframe. [4] The large radiator was to be mounted under the fuselage. The pressurized cockpit was to feature a bubble canopy, and an armament of four .50 in machine guns and two 37 mm cannons mounted in a laminar flow wing was planned. [4]

XP-69 mockup Republic XP-69 mockup.jpg
XP-69 mockup

In December 1941, the United States Army Air Forces (successor to the USAAC) ordered two prototypes of the AP-18 under the designation XP-69. [1] A mockup was built and was inspected by the USAAF in June 1942. [4] [3] Construction of the first prototype began in November of that year. [3] However, due to development troubles and delays with the R-2160 engine, the XP-69 project was canceled in favor of a parallel development, the Republic XP-72, on May 24, 1943. By that time engineering on the project was 75% complete and the prototype was still in the early stages of construction, with the total program cost being $810,000. [3]

Specifications (XP-69 as planned)

Data from [4] [3]

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Pearce, William (2016-05-07). "Republic XP-69 Fighter". Old Machine Press. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  2. Chong, Anthony (2016-06-15). Flying Wings & Radical Things: Northrop's Secret Aerospace Projects & Concepts 1939-1994. Specialty Press. p. 13. ISBN   978-1-58007-229-8.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Norton, Bill (2008). U.S. Experimental & Prototype Aircraft Projects: Fighters 1939-1945. Specialty Press. p. 155. ISBN   978-1-580-07109-3.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Baugher, Joe (August 7, 2011). "Republic XP-69". www.joebaugher.com. Retrieved 2020-06-04.
  5. "Airfoils". aerofiles.net. Retrieved 2020-07-11.