The Bell XP-83 (later redesignated XF-83)[1] was a United States prototype jetescort fighter designed by Bell Aircraft during World War II. It first flew in 1945. As with most early first generation jet fighters, the design was hampered by a relative lack of power. With the rapid advancements in jet technology post-WWII, the XP-83 was soon eclipsed by more advanced designs and it never entered production.
XP-83
S/n 44-84990 in test flight over Wright Field, May 1945
The early jetfighters consumed fuel at a prodigious rate which severely limited their range and endurance. In March 1944, the United States Army Air Forces requested Bell to design a fighter with increased endurance and formally awarded a contract for two prototypes on 31 July 1944.
Bell had been working on its "Model 40" interceptor design since 1943. It was redesigned as a long-range escort fighter while retaining the general layout of the P-59 Airacomet. The two General Electric J33-GE-5 turbojet engines were located in each wing root which left the large and bulky fuselage free for fuel tanks and armament. The fuselage was an all-metal semimonocoque capable of carrying 1,150 gal (4,350 L) of fuel. In addition, two 250 gal (950 L) drop tanks could be carried. The cabin was pressurized and used a small and low bubble style canopy. The armament was to be six 0.5 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the nose.
Testingedit
Early wind tunnel reports had pinpointed directional instability but the "fix" of a larger tail would not be ready in time for flight testing.[2]
The first prototype was flown on 25 February 1945, by Bell's chief test pilot, Jack Woolams. He found it to have satisfactory flight characteristics, although it was under-powered. The expected instability was confirmed – spins were avoided (until a larger tail fin was installed). The second prototype did incorporate a modified tail and an aileron boost system.[3] One unusual characteristic was extremely high landing speeds, due to factors including the XP-83's lack of drag brakes – in addition to the sleek aerodynamics and relatively high minimum thrust settings common to early jet aircraft, and necessary to prevent unintended flame-outs. This meant that test pilots were forced to fly "stabilized approaches" (i.e. very long and flat landing approaches).[4]
The first prototype was used in 1946 as a ramjet test-bed with an engineer's station located in the fuselage behind the pilot. On 14 September 1946, one of the ramjets caught fire forcing pilot, "Slick" Goodlin and engineer Charles Fay, to bail out. The second prototype flew on 19 October and was later scrapped in 1947. Apart from range, the XP-83 was inferior to the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star and this led to the cancellation of the XP-83 project in 1947.
Carpenter, David M. Flame Powered: The Bell XP-59A Airacomet and the General Electric I-A Engine. Boston: Jet Pioneers of America, 1982. ISBN0-9633387-0-6. (Page 59 is about the XP-83.)
Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War: Fighters, Volume Four. London: Macdonald, 1961 (6th impression 1969). ISBN0-356-01448-7.
Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. WW2 Aircraft Fact Files: US Army Air Force Fighters, Part 1. London: Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd., 1977. ISBN0-356-08218-0.
Knaack, Marcelle Size. Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems: Volume 1 Post-World War II Fighters 1945-1973. Washington, DC: Office of Air Force History, 1978. ISBN0-912799-59-5.
Koehnen, Richard C. "Bell's No Name Fighter." Airpower, Vol. 12, no. 1. January 1982.
Pelletier, Alain J. Bell Aircraft Since 1935. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, 1992. ISBN1-55750-056-8.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bell XP-83.
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The Bell XP 83 later redesignated XF 83 1 was a United States prototype jet escort fighter designed by Bell Aircraft during World War II It first flew in 1945 As with most early first generation jet fighters the design was hampered by a relative lack of power With the rapid advancements in jet technology post WWII the XP 83 was soon eclipsed by more advanced designs and it never entered production XP 83 S n 44 84990 in test flight over Wright Field May 1945 Role Escort fighter Manufacturer Bell Aircraft First flight 25 February 1945 Status Project cancelled 1947 Primary user United States Army Air Forces intended Number built 2 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Testing 3 Specifications XP 83 4 See also 5 References 5 1 Notes 5 2 Bibliography 6 External linksDesign and development editThe early jet fighters consumed fuel at a prodigious rate which severely limited their range and endurance In March 1944 the United States Army Air Forces requested Bell to design a fighter with increased endurance and formally awarded a contract for two prototypes on 31 July 1944 Bell had been working on its Model 40 interceptor design since 1943 It was redesigned as a long range escort fighter while retaining the general layout of the P 59 Airacomet The two General Electric J33 GE 5 turbojet engines were located in each wing root which left the large and bulky fuselage free for fuel tanks and armament The fuselage was an all metal semimonocoque capable of carrying 1 150 gal 4 350 L of fuel In addition two 250 gal 950 L drop tanks could be carried The cabin was pressurized and used a small and low bubble style canopy The armament was to be six 0 5 in 12 7 mm machine guns in the nose Testing editEarly wind tunnel reports had pinpointed directional instability but the fix of a larger tail would not be ready in time for flight testing 2 The first prototype was flown on 25 February 1945 by Bell s chief test pilot Jack Woolams He found it to have satisfactory flight characteristics although it was under powered The expected instability was confirmed spins were avoided until a larger tail fin was installed The second prototype did incorporate a modified tail and an aileron boost system 3 One unusual characteristic was extremely high landing speeds due to factors including the XP 83 s lack of drag brakes in addition to the sleek aerodynamics and relatively high minimum thrust settings common to early jet aircraft and necessary to prevent unintended flame outs This meant that test pilots were forced to fly stabilized approaches i e very long and flat landing approaches 4 The first prototype was used in 1946 as a ramjet test bed with an engineer s station located in the fuselage behind the pilot On 14 September 1946 one of the ramjets caught fire forcing pilot Slick Goodlin and engineer Charles Fay to bail out The second prototype flew on 19 October and was later scrapped in 1947 Apart from range the XP 83 was inferior to the Lockheed P 80 Shooting Star and this led to the cancellation of the XP 83 project in 1947 Specifications XP 83 edit nbsp XP 83 first prototype Data from War Planes of the Second World War 5 General characteristicsCrew 1 engineer s station fitted to first prototype with an entrance door under the fuselage Length 44 ft 10 in 13 67 m Wingspan 53 ft 0 in 16 15 m Height 15 ft 3 in 4 65 m Wing area 431 sq ft 40 0 m2 Empty weight 14 105 lb 6 398 kg Gross weight 24 090 lb 10 927 kg Max takeoff weight 27 500 lb 12 474 kg Fuel capacity 1 154 US gal 961 imp gal 4 370 L 2x 300 US gal 250 imp gal 1 100 L drop tanks Powerplant 2 General Electric XJ33 GE 5 centrifugal flow compressor turbojet engines 4 000 lbf 18 kN thrust each for take off at 11 500 rpm Performance Maximum speed 522 mph 840 km h 454 kn at 15 660 ft 4 770 m Range 1 730 mi 2 780 km 1 500 nmi on internals Ferry range 2 050 mi 3 300 km 1 780 nmi with drop tanks Service ceiling 45 000 ft 14 000 m Rate of climb 5 650 ft min 28 7 m s Time to altitude 30 000 ft 9 100 m in 11 minutes 30 seconds Wing loading 56 lb sq ft 270 kg m2 Thrust weight 0 33 Armament Guns 6 50 in 12 7 mm M2 machine guns or 6 60 in 15 2 mm T17E3 machine guns prototypes or 4 20 mm 0 79 in Hispano cannons or 1 37 mm 1 46 in cannon in the nose Bombs 2 1 000 lb 454 kg bombsSee also editRelated development Bell P 59 Airacomet Related lists List of fighter aircraft List of military aircraft of the United StatesReferences editNotes edit Bell XF 83 www nationalmuseum af mil Retrieved 2023 12 04 Koehnen 1982 p 24 Koehnen 1982 pp 44 48 Koehnen 1982 p 48 Green 1961 p 24 Bibliography edit Carpenter David M Flame Powered The Bell XP 59A Airacomet and the General Electric I A Engine Boston Jet Pioneers of America 1982 ISBN 0 9633387 0 6 Page 59 is about the XP 83 Green William War Planes of the Second World War Fighters Volume Four London Macdonald 1961 6th impression 1969 ISBN 0 356 01448 7 Green William and Gordon Swanborough WW2 Aircraft Fact Files US Army Air Force Fighters Part 1 London Macdonald and Jane s Publishers Ltd 1977 ISBN 0 356 08218 0 Knaack Marcelle Size Encyclopedia of US Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems Volume 1 Post World War II Fighters 1945 1973 Washington DC Office of Air Force History 1978 ISBN 0 912799 59 5 Koehnen Richard C Bell s No Name Fighter Airpower Vol 12 no 1 January 1982 Pelletier Alain J Bell Aircraft Since 1935 Annapolis MD Naval Institute Press 1992 ISBN 1 55750 056 8 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bell XP 83 Joe Baugher s XP 83 page USAF Museum page 1 2 Warbirds Resource Group page with photos Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bell XP 83 amp oldid 1216892880, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
