Thomas-Morse XP-13 Viper
Thomas-Morse Aircraft · United States · first flew 1929 · fighter
The Thomas-Morse XP-13 Viper was an experimental single-seat pursuit biplane developed for the United States Army Air Corps in the late 1920s, powered by a liquid-cooled Curtiss Conqueror engine. Only one prototype was built.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 7.16 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
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Spot it by:
- 1920s US Army biplane pursuit prototype
- Curtiss Conqueror liquid-cooled engine in nose
- Single prototype evaluated by USAAC
A compact biplane with a liquid-cooled engine giving a narrow frontal profile, short fuselage, and tapered wings; the inline engine distinguishes it from radial-engined contemporaries.
Specifications
- The Thomas-Morse XP-13 Viper has a length of 7.16 m (23 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 8.53 m (28 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 277 km/h (172 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed as one of several competing pursuit types evaluated by the USAAC in the late 1920s, the XP-13 was submitted by Thomas-Morse Aircraft — a company better known for its World War I trainers. The Viper did not outperform competing designs and no production order followed.
Variants
Single prototype only.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service.
Related aircraft
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