Thomas-Morse XP-13 Viper

Last updated
XP-13
Thomas Morse XP-13 Viper USAF.jpg
Thomas-Morse XP-13
RoleFighter
Manufacturer Thomas-Morse
DesignerB. Douglas Thomas [1]
IntroductionJune 1929
Primary user United States Army Air Service
Number built1 [2]

The XP-13 Viper was a prototype biplane fighter aircraft designed by the American company Thomas-Morse Aircraft Corporation. The airplane was delivered to the United States Army in 1929, but they did not adopt it.

Contents

Design and development

The XP-13, powered by the Curtiss H-1640-1 Chieftain engine Thomas-Morse XP-13 - Ray Wagner Collection Image (16573609412).jpg
The XP-13, powered by the Curtiss H-1640-1 Chieftain engine

This aircraft was one of several B. Douglas Thomas designs built in hopes of a production contract from the Army, following the successful Thomas-Morse MB-3 of 1919. Financed by the company, and named the "Viper", it was officially purchased by the Army in June 1929 and designated "XP-13".

The XP-13 fuselage had a corrugated aluminum skin built over a metal frame; the flying surfaces were also metal-framed, but covered with the traditional fabric. While designed to use the 600 hp Curtiss H-1640-1 Chieftain engine, (a novel 12-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial with the rear cylinders directly behind the front cylinders rather than staggered as normal in a two-row radial [3] ) for which the XP-13 incorporated a complex system of baffles to direct cooling air over the engine, the engine simply would not stay cool enough, and in September 1930 it was replaced with a Pratt & Whitney SR1340C Wasp of 450 hp. Ironically, the lower-power engine actually resulted in a speed increase of 15 mph, at least partly because of the weight savings. [4]

In the end, the Army decided against production, Thomas-Morse was acquired by Consolidated Aircraft, and the prototype was lost to an inflight fire.

Variants

XP-13
Prototype, serial number 29-453 with 600 hp (448 kW) Curtiss H-1640-1 Chieftain hex engine [2]
XP-13A
The XP-13 modified with a 525 hp (391 kW) Pratt & Whitney SR-1340-C enclosed in a NACA cowling, along with a revised fin and rudder [5]
XP-14
This designation was used for a proposed Curtiss version of the Viper with the Curtiss H-1640-1 Chieftain hex engine

Operators

Side view of P&W-powered XP-13A variant showing corrugated aluminum skin Thomas-Morse XP-13 Viper.jpg
Side view of P&W-powered XP-13A variant showing corrugated aluminum skin
Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States

Specifications (XP-13 (Chieftain engine))

Data fromWilliam Green; Gordon Swanborough (1994). The Complete Book of Fighters: An Illustrated Encyclopedia of Every Fighter Aircraft Built and Flown. Salamander. ISBN   978-0-86101-643-3.

General characteristics

Performance

Armament
none

See also

Related lists

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References

Notes
  1. The Complete Book of Fighters Editors: William Green & Gordon Swanborough (Barnes & Noble Books New York, 1998, ISBN   0-7607-0904-1)
  2. 1 2 "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908–1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.
  3. Gunston 1986, p.46.
  4. "U.S. Fighters", by Lloyd S. Jones, (Aero Publishers, Inc. ISBN   0-8168-9200-8, 1975) pp. 46–47
  5. "The American Fighter", Enzo Angellucci and Peter Bowers, (Orion Books ISBN   0-517-56588-9), 1987
  6. 1 2 3 Dorr and Donald 1990, p.43
Bibliography