Grumman XP-50
Grumman · United States · first flew 1941 · fighter
The Grumman XP-50 was a twin-engine experimental pursuit aircraft evaluated by the United States Army Air Corps in 1941, featuring turbosupercharged Wright R-1820 radial engines driving contra-rotating propellers. The sole prototype was destroyed in a mid-flight engine explosion.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.73 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine USAAC experimental fighter with tricycle gear
- Contra-rotating propellers on Wright R-1820 engines
- Only one built; lost in inflight engine explosion
A twin-engine mid-wing monoplane with a twin-boom tail, tricycle undercarriage, and distinctive contra-rotating props on each nacelle; resembles a land-based version of the XF5F Skyrocket.
Specifications
- The Grumman XP-50 has a length of 9.73 m (32 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.8 m (42 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 680 km/h (423 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Grumman developed the XP-50 as a land-based counterpart to the XF5F-1 naval fighter, submitting it to a USAAC competition for a twin-engine interceptor. The single prototype first flew in February 1941 but was destroyed in May 1941 when a turbosupercharger exploded, killing the test programme. The competing Lockheed XP-49 also failed to advance.
Variants
Single prototype only; no production variant.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service.
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