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One of the most radical of US experimental fighters of
World War II, the XP-56 was conceived as a result of an
informal competition initiated late in 1939 for innovative
fighter designs, the winning contractors being Vultee
(XP-54), Curtiss (XP-55) and Northrop (XP-56). The
XP-56 was a tailless pusher of all-magnesium, all-welded construction, two prototypes being ordered on
26 September 1940 and 13 February 1942 respectively.
Power was provided by a 2,000hp Pratt & Whitney
R-2800-29 Double Wasp 18-cylinder radial engine
buried in the rear fuselage and driving contra-rotating
pusher propellers. Proposed armament comprised two
20mm cannon and four 12.7mm machine
guns.
The first two flights were conducted on 6 September
1943, dorsal fin area subsequently being increased
and flight test being resumed on 8 October, the aircraft
being written-off as a result of a landing accident on the
second flight of that day. The second prototype, which
differed in having bellows-type, split-flap wingtip "rudders"
and a further increase in dorsal fin area, flew on
23 March 1944. Lateral instability and control reversal
were experienced at low speeds, and high speeds were
not attainable owing to inability to obtain full power.
After the 10th flight of this XP-56, the USAAF concluded
that further flight testing was "too hazardous" and development
was discontinued.
| MODEL | XP-56 (est.) |
| CREW | 1 |
| WEIGHTS |
| Take-off weight | 5148 kg | 11349 lb |
| Empty weight | 3946 kg | 8699 lb |
| DIMENSIONS |
| Wingspan | 12.98 m | 42 ft 7 in |
| Length | 8.38 m | 27 ft 6 in |
| Height | 2.94 m | 9 ft 8 in |
| Wing area | 28.52 m2 | 306.99 sq ft |
| PERFORMANCE |
| Max. speed | 671 km/h | 417 mph |
| Range | 1062 km | 660 miles |
 | A three-view drawing (1276 x 998) |
| THE WHO, 25.03.2008 NICE PLANE, BUT TOO BAD IT DIDN'T GO IN PRODUCTION. | | THE WHO, 25.03.2008 NICE PLANE, BUT TOO BAD IT DIDN'T GO IN PRODUCTION. |
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COMPANY
PROFILE
FACTS AND FIGURES© The planned armament was four
20mm cannon and four
12.7mm machine guns in
the nose, although this was never
fitted. © In a later modification the
ailerons were operated by bellows
fed by intakes in the wingtips. © The tail configuration would have made escape
from an inflight emergency difficult. To counter
this restriction an explosive severing cord would
jettison the gearbox and propellers before bailout. © Northrop had expected that the
downturned wingtips would
provide the necessary stability,
but they were mistaken.
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