Curtiss XP-31 Swift

The Curtiss XP-31 Swift (Wright Field Project Number XP-934) was a 1930s American experimental monoplane fighter built by Curtiss for the United States Army Air Corps.

XP-31 Swift
Curtiss XP-31 with Vee engine
Role Experimental monoplane fighter
Manufacturer Curtiss
First flight July 1932[1]
Introduction 1933
Primary user United States Army Air Corps
Number built 1

The XP-31 featured the first enclosed cockpit on a U.S. pursuit aircraft and was also the last pursuit aircraft to have fixed landing gear and externally braced wings. Despite its innovations, the XP-31 did not offer any advantages compared to its rival the Boeing P-26 Peashooter and was not ordered into series production.

Design and development

Curtiss offered the XP-31 (given the Wright Field Project Number XP-934) in a 1932 competition with the P-26. It was a low-wing monoplane with fixed landing gear, first flown in July. It was the AAC's first single-seat closed-cockpit fighter, and the last with fixed gear and wing struts. Despite its small size, it was badly overweight, and carried 125 gallons (104 imp gal, 474 L) of fuel. Although Curtiss considered the design significant in that it introduced various new technologies, compared to its contemporaries the XP-31 was already outmoded, and, more importantly, testing showed that it fell below performance expectations.[2]

Testing and evaluation
The Curtiss XP-934 in its original radial engine configuration
Side view of the XP-31's original configuration

Powered by a 700 hp (520 kW) R-1750 Cyclone radial, its performance was dismal, despite retractable leading edge slots and large trailing-edge flaps, so a 600 hp (450 kW) Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror was substituted. In this form, the Curtiss XP-31 Swift (s/n 33-178) was delivered on 1 March 1933, having already lost to the P-26. The sole example was scrapped in 1935.[2]

Operators
 United States

Specifications

Data from U.S. Fighters: Army-Air Force 1925 to 1980s[3] and Fighters of the United States Air Force[2]

General characteristics

  • Crew: one pilot
  • Length: 26 ft 3 in (8.0 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 0 in (11 m)
  • Height: 7 ft 9 in (2.4 m)
  • Wing area: 203 sq ft (18.86 m2)
  • Empty weight: 3,334 lb (1,512 kg)
  • Gross weight: 4,143 lb (1,879 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror water-cooled 12-cylinder vee engine , 600 hp (450 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 208 mph (335 km/h, 181 kn)
  • Range: 370 mi (595 km, 320 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 24,400 ft (7,437 m)

Armament

  • 2 × fixed, forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in cowl
  • 2 × fixed, forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns in cheeks

Related lists

References
Notes
  1. Green and Swanborough 1994, p. 131.
  2. Dorr and Donald 1990, p. 60.
  3. Jones 1975, p. 81.
Bibliography
  • Bowers, Peter M. Curtiss Aircraft 1907-1947. London: Putnam & Company Ltd., 1979. ISBN 0-370-10029-8.
  • Donald, David, ed. Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada: Prospero Books, 1997. ISBN 1-85605-375-X.
  • Dorr, Robert F. and David Donald. Fighters of the United States Air Force. London: Aerospace Publishing, 1990. ISBN 0-600-55094-X.
  • Green, William and Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. New York: Smithmark, 1994. ISBN 0-8317-3939-8.
  • Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Fighters: Army-Air Force 1925 to 1980s. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, 1975. ISBN 0-8168-9200-8.
  • Pedigree of Champions: Boeing Since 1916, Third Edition. Seattle, Washington: The Boeing Company, 1969.

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