Curtiss XP-31 Swift
Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company · United States · first flew 1932 · fighter
The Curtiss XP-31 Swift was a single-seat experimental pursuit monoplane that represented a transitional design in early 1930s American fighter development. It was the first US pursuit aircraft to feature an enclosed cockpit, yet retained the wire-braced wings and fixed undercarriage of an earlier era.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Enclosed cockpit on a wire-braced monoplane — advanced for its day
- Fixed undercarriage with large wheel fairings
- Slim inverted-gull silhouette with prominent bracing struts
The combination of an enclosed cockpit with external wing bracing and a large fixed undercarriage is unique to this aircraft. The slim, straight-tapered monoplane wing braced by a single pair of struts distinguishes it from contemporary biplanes.
Specifications
- The Curtiss XP-31 Swift has a length of 8 m (26 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11 m (36 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 335 km/h (208 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Flown in July 1932, the XP-31 was evaluated by the US Army Air Corps against the Boeing P-26 Peashooter and lost out in competition despite its enclosed cockpit. Only one aircraft was built; the Boeing design's greater speed and simpler structure prevailed. The Swift marked the end of the wire-braced fighter lineage at Curtiss.
Variants
A single prototype was built and tested with both the Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror V-12 and a Wright Cyclone radial engine; neither configuration secured a production order.
Where you'll see it
The XP-31 served only as an Army Air Corps evaluation aircraft and never entered operational service.
Related aircraft
- Curtiss XP-22 Hawk
- Curtiss P-1A Hawk
- Curtiss R2C
- Curtiss CR
- ANF Les Mureaux 170
- Avia B-34
- Boeing P-26 Peashooter
- Boeing P-26A Peashooter
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