Vultee XP-68 Tornado

The Vultee XP-68 Tornado was a proposed American World War II-era high-altitude interceptor aircraft. It was based on the experimental XP-54 Swoose Goose and powered by the Wright R-2160 Tornado 42-cylinder radial engine driving a set of contra-rotating propellers in a twin-boom pusher configuration. When the engine was cancelled on 22 November 1941, the XP-68 was also cancelled.

Specifications edit

Data from Fighters of the United States Air Force: From World War I Pursuit to the F-117^[1]

General characteristics

Crew: One
Length: 51 ft 6 in (15.70 m)
Wingspan: 51 ft 8 in (15.75 m)
Height: 17 ft 3 in (5.26 m)
Wing area: 505 sq ft (46.9 m²)
Empty weight: 15,595 lb (7,074 kg)
Gross weight: 26,164 lb (11,868 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-2160 42 cylinder 6 row air-cooled radial engine, 2,500 hp (1,900 kW)
Propellers: contrarotating

Performance

Maximum speed: 450 mph (720 km/h, 390 kn) estimated at 35,000 ft (11,000 m)
Range: 1,800 mi (2,900 km, 1,600 nmi)
Service ceiling: 48,900 ft (14,900 m) (service)
Rate of climb: 3,000 ft/min (15 m/s) initial
Time to altitude: 20 minutes to 35,000 ft (11,000 m) estimated

Armament

Andrade, John M. U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester, UK: Midland Counties Publications, 1979. ISBN 0-904597-21-0 (Hardcover), ISBN 0-904597-22-9 (Softcover).
Angelucci, Enzo and Peter Bowers. The American Fighter, The Definite Guide to American Fighter Aircraft from 1917 to the Present. New York: Orion Books, 1987. ISBN 0-517-56588-9.
Dorr, Robert F.; Donald, David (1990). Fighters of the United States Air Force: From World War I Pursuit to the F-117. London, UK: Temple Press/Aerospace. p. 121. ISBN 978-0600550945.
Thompson, Jonathan. Vultee Aircraft 1932–1947. Santa Ana, CA; Narkiewicz/Thompson, 1992. ISBN 0-913322-02-4.
Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes of the 20th Century: A Comprehensive Reference. Reno, Nevada: Jack Bacon & Co, 2004. ISBN 0-930083-17-2.