Fisher P-75 Eagle
General Motors (Fisher Body Division) · United States · first flew 1943 · fighter
The Fisher (General Motors) P-75 Eagle was an American single-seat fighter built to an expedient design philosophy that recycled proven components from existing aircraft, but ultimately failed to meet its performance guarantees and was cancelled after only six production aircraft were delivered.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Allison V-3420 engine in the fuselage driving contra-rotating propellers |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Allison V-3420 engine in the fuselage driving contra-rotating propellers
- Built largely from existing components — tail from Douglas Dauntless, undercarriage from Vought Corsair
- Cancelled after poor performance — failed to meet its promised specifications
A large, powerful-looking single-engine monoplane with contra-rotating propellers and a mid-mounted wing; the unusual undercarriage geometry (borrowed from the Corsair) gives it a distinctive ground stance.
Specifications
- The Fisher P-75 Eagle has a length of 12.32 m (40 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 15.04 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 697 km/h (433 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Don Berlin at GM's Fisher Body Division, the P-75 used the tail surfaces of the Douglas SBD Dauntless, undercarriage of the Vought F4U Corsair, and other components to promise fast development. The USAAF placed a large order but the aircraft suffered from poor handling and disappointing speed; the production contract was cancelled in 1944 when the P-51D Mustang proved far superior.
Variants
The XP-75 prototype and the P-75A production variant (six built) were the only versions; the programme ended before any significant operational service.
Where you'll see it
Never entered operational service; the six P-75A production aircraft were used only for testing. The programme is cited as a case study in the dangers of procurement shortcuts.
Related aircraft
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