The North American P-64 was the designation assigned by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) to the North American AviationNA-68 fighter, an upgraded variant of the NA-50 developed during the late 1930s. Seven NA-50s were purchased by the Peruvian Air Force, which nicknamed it Torito ("Little Bull").
Six NA-68s ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force were seized before export by the US government in 1941, after the Franco-Thai War and growing ties between Thailand and the Empire of Japan. These aircraft were used by the USAAC as unarmed fighter trainers.
The North American Aviation NA-50 was developed as a simple single-seat, low-wing, single-engined fighter for export. The design was developed from the NA-16/BT-9 basic training aircraft of 1935. The NA-16 evolved into a series of aircraft that were some of the most widely used advanced and basic training aircraft produced by any country, and provided the basic design for a single-engined fighter intended for small countries that needed a simple aircraft with modern capabilities and features.
The NA-50 Torito (Spanish slang for "little bull"), built for Peru, was a single-seat fighter design based on the two-seat Basic Combat Demonstrator NA-44. The NA-50 was powered by an 840 hp (626 kW) Wright R-1820-G3 radial air-cooled engine that gave the NA-50 a top speed of 295 mph (475 km/h) at 9,500 ft (2,900 m). It was armed with two .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns. The aircraft were manufactured in May 1939, and test-flown at the factory.[1]
NA-68edit
In 1940, the Royal Thai Air Force ordered six aircraft similar to the NA-50 that were designated NA-68. The changes in the NA-68 included a modified landing gear, new outer wings, heavier armament, and redesigned tail surfaces similar to those adopted on later production trainers. North American test pilot Lewis Waite flew the first NA-68 on 1 September 1940.[2]
Operational historyedit
USAAC P-64
Peru purchased seven aircraft for the Peruvian Air Force, with deliveries completed in May 1939. In Peruvian service, these aircraft were fitted with bomb racks under the fuselage for light bombs. The Peruvian NA-50s took part in the Ecuadorian–Peruvian War of July 1941, supporting Army of Peru ground forces.[3]
In 1940, the NA-68s (along with a parallel order for NA-69 two seaters) ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force were en route to Thailand when their export clearance was cancelled and were returned to the United States where they were assigned the designation P-64, disarmed, and used for advanced fighter training.
This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information.(June 2022)
NA-50 XXI-41-4 (c/n 50-951). The sole surviving NA-50 is currently under restoration at Las Palmas Air Base, Lima, Peru, with it being planned that the aircraft be restored to flying by 2021. The aircraft remained in service until 1961 and was then displayed on a pedestal next to the Mausoleum of Captain José Quiñones Gonzales, (a Peruvian national hero who died flying an NA-50), until 2018, when it was removed for restoration.[4]
NA-68A 41-19085 (c/n 68-3061). One of the six intercepted Thailand-bound P-64s which survived being used for training and liaison was obtained by the Experimental Aircraft Association in the 1960s, and was used by EAA founder and president Paul Poberezny to perform an aerobatic display as part of the organization's annual fly-in. It was retired from flight after 1988 and placed on display at the EAA Aviation Museum.[5] This aircraft has been restored to flying condition, with the engine running again in 2013, followed by its first flying appearance at the 2016 (EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow).
^ abGates, John and Tom Lymburn. "North American P-64/NA-50 – N840." 2014-03-25 at the Wayback MachineAirVenture Museum. Retrieved: 6 January 2012.
^Cooper, Tom Cooper and Esteban Rivera."The Most Powerful Air Force in Latin America." Acig.org, 1 September 2003. Retrieved: 26 March 2010.
^"Peruvian NA-50 to fly for bicentennial". Aeroplane. Vol. 47, no. 10. October 2019. p. 12. ISSN 0143-7240.
^"For many years, EAA founder Paul Poberezny flew aerobatic performances in the EAA Aviation Museum's 1940 North American P-64 at air shows around the country, spreading The Spirit of Aviation. The airplane was retired to static display in 1988 but returned to the skies at #OSH16 to help commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks. EAA (accessed 22 December 2022)
Angelucci, Bowers; Bowers, Peter (1987). The American Fighter. Sparkford, UK: Haynes Publishing Group. ISBN0-85429-635-2.
Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters (Vol 4). London: MacDonald, 1961.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to North American P-64.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT AIR SHOW
P-64 Runs for First Time in Decades
Airventure Museum: North American P-64/NA-50 – N840
North American P-64
January 01, 1970
north, american, designation, assigned, united, states, army, corps, usaac, north, american, aviation, fighter, upgraded, variant, developed, during, late, 1930s, seven, were, purchased, peruvian, force, which, nicknamed, torito, little, bull, role, fighter, m. The North American P 64 was the designation assigned by the United States Army Air Corps USAAC to the North American Aviation NA 68 fighter an upgraded variant of the NA 50 developed during the late 1930s Seven NA 50s were purchased by the Peruvian Air Force which nicknamed it Torito Little Bull NA 50 NA 68 P 64 North American P 64 Role Fighter Manufacturer North American Aviation First flight May 1939 NA 50 1 1 September 1940 NA 68 2 Retired 1950 Peru Primary users Peruvian Air ForceUnited States Army Air Forces Number built 13 Developed from North American NA 16 Six NA 68s ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force were seized before export by the US government in 1941 after the Franco Thai War and growing ties between Thailand and the Empire of Japan These aircraft were used by the USAAC as unarmed fighter trainers The Peruvian NA 50s subsequently saw action during the Ecuadorian Peruvian War of 1941 Contents 1 Design and development 1 1 NA 50 1 2 NA 68 2 Operational history 3 Operators 4 Surviving aircraft 5 Specifications NA 68 P 64 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development editNA 50 edit nbsp NA 50 Torito destined for Peruvian service The North American Aviation NA 50 was developed as a simple single seat low wing single engined fighter for export The design was developed from the NA 16 BT 9 basic training aircraft of 1935 The NA 16 evolved into a series of aircraft that were some of the most widely used advanced and basic training aircraft produced by any country and provided the basic design for a single engined fighter intended for small countries that needed a simple aircraft with modern capabilities and features The NA 50 Torito Spanish slang for little bull built for Peru was a single seat fighter design based on the two seat Basic Combat Demonstrator NA 44 The NA 50 was powered by an 840 hp 626 kW Wright R 1820 G3 radial air cooled engine that gave the NA 50 a top speed of 295 mph 475 km h at 9 500 ft 2 900 m It was armed with two 30 in 7 62 mm M1919 Browning machine guns The aircraft were manufactured in May 1939 and test flown at the factory 1 NA 68 edit In 1940 the Royal Thai Air Force ordered six aircraft similar to the NA 50 that were designated NA 68 The changes in the NA 68 included a modified landing gear new outer wings heavier armament and redesigned tail surfaces similar to those adopted on later production trainers North American test pilot Lewis Waite flew the first NA 68 on 1 September 1940 2 Operational history edit nbsp USAAC P 64 Peru purchased seven aircraft for the Peruvian Air Force with deliveries completed in May 1939 In Peruvian service these aircraft were fitted with bomb racks under the fuselage for light bombs The Peruvian NA 50s took part in the Ecuadorian Peruvian War of July 1941 supporting Army of Peru ground forces 3 In 1940 the NA 68s along with a parallel order for NA 69 two seaters ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force were en route to Thailand when their export clearance was cancelled and were returned to the United States where they were assigned the designation P 64 disarmed and used for advanced fighter training Operators edit nbsp Peru Peruvian Air Force nbsp United States United States Army Air Corps United States Army Air ForcesSurviving aircraft editThis section needs to be updated Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information June 2022 NA 50 XXI 41 4 c n 50 951 The sole surviving NA 50 is currently under restoration at Las Palmas Air Base Lima Peru with it being planned that the aircraft be restored to flying by 2021 The aircraft remained in service until 1961 and was then displayed on a pedestal next to the Mausoleum of Captain Jose Quinones Gonzales a Peruvian national hero who died flying an NA 50 until 2018 when it was removed for restoration 4 NA 68A 41 19085 c n 68 3061 One of the six intercepted Thailand bound P 64s which survived being used for training and liaison was obtained by the Experimental Aircraft Association in the 1960s and was used by EAA founder and president Paul Poberezny to perform an aerobatic display as part of the organization s annual fly in It was retired from flight after 1988 and placed on display at the EAA Aviation Museum 5 This aircraft has been restored to flying condition with the engine running again in 2013 followed by its first flying appearance at the 2016 EAA AirVenture Oshkosh airshow Specifications NA 68 P 64 editData from The American Fighter 6 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 27 ft 0 in 8 23 m Wingspan 37 ft 3 in 11 35 m Height 9 ft 0 in 2 74 m Wing area 228 sq ft 21 2 m2 Empty weight 4 660 lb 2 114 kg Gross weight 5 990 lb 2 717 kg Max takeoff weight 6 800 lb 3 084 kg Fuel capacity 170 US gal 140 imp gal 640 L Powerplant 1 Wright R 1820 77 nine cylinder air cooled radial engine 870 hp 650 kW Performance Maximum speed 270 mph 430 km h 230 kn at 8 700 ft 2 700 m Cruise speed 235 mph 378 km h 204 kn Range 630 mi 1 010 km 550 nmi Service ceiling 27 500 ft 8 400 m Armament Guns 2 30 in 7 62 mm machine guns 2 20 mm cannons Located in pods beneath each wing Bombs 750 lb 340 kg bombsSee also editRelated development North American NA 16 North American A 27 North American T 6 Texan CAC Boomerang an Australian fighter based on a license built variant of the NA 16 CAC Wirraway Aircraft of comparable role configuration and era Brewster F2A Buffalo Curtiss P 36 Hawk PZL 50 Jastrzab Polikarpov I 180 Republic P 43 Lancer Related lists List of military aircraft of the United States List of aircraft of World War IIReferences editNotes edit a b Green 1961 p 134 a b Gates John and Tom Lymburn North American P 64 NA 50 N840 Archived 2014 03 25 at the Wayback Machine AirVenture Museum Retrieved 6 January 2012 Cooper Tom Cooper and Esteban Rivera The Most Powerful Air Force in Latin America Acig org 1 September 2003 Retrieved 26 March 2010 Peruvian NA 50 to fly for bicentennial Aeroplane Vol 47 no 10 October 2019 p 12 ISSN 0143 7240 For many years EAA founder Paul Poberezny flew aerobatic performances in the EAA Aviation Museum s 1940 North American P 64 at air shows around the country spreading The Spirit of Aviation The airplane was retired to static display in 1988 but returned to the skies at OSH16 to help commemorate the 75th anniversary of the Pearl Harbor attacks EAA accessed 22 December 2022 Angelucci amp Bowers 1987 pp 329 330 Bibliography edit Angelucci Bowers Bowers Peter 1987 The American Fighter Sparkford UK Haynes Publishing Group ISBN 0 85429 635 2 Green William War Planes of the Second World War Fighters Vol 4 London MacDonald 1961 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to North American P 64 WEDNESDAY NIGHT AIR SHOW P 64 Runs for First Time in Decades Airventure Museum North American P 64 NA 50 N840 North American P 64 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title North American P 64 amp oldid 1153303217, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
