Lockheed YP-24
Detroit Aircraft / Lockheed · United States · first flew 1931 · fighter
The Lockheed YP-24 was a single-engine monoplane pursuit prototype built for the US Army Air Corps in 1931, notable for featuring a cantilever low wing and retractable landing gear at a time when biplanes dominated military aviation.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 8.76 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Early 1930s monoplane pursuit prototype with retractable gear
- Cantilever low wing — advanced for its time
- Only one example built before Detroit Aircraft's bankruptcy
Sleek monoplane with a radial engine in a NACA cowling, cantilever low wing, and enclosed cockpit — unusually advanced for 1931 pursuit aircraft. Its retractable undercarriage was a rare feature at the time.
Specifications
- The Lockheed YP-24 has a length of 8.76 m (29 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 13.04 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 362 km/h (225 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Detroit Aircraft Corporation developed the XP-900/YP-24 using Lockheed's design talent following acquisition of that company. The prototype flew in 1931 and demonstrated impressive performance, but Detroit Aircraft went bankrupt shortly after, and the programme was acquired by Consolidated Aircraft, leading to the P-30 series. Only the single YP-24 was completed.
Variants
One prototype only; the design lineage continued as the Consolidated P-30 (YP-24 concept developed after Consolidated acquired rights).
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; used for evaluation trials before the manufacturer's bankruptcy ended the programme.
Related aircraft
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