Curtiss XP-62

The Curtiss XP-62 was a prototype heavily armed, high-performance, single engine fighter aircraft built for the United States Army Air Corps by the Curtiss-Wright Corporation.

Design and development
The terms of the contract, in accordance with a proposal of 29 April 1941, called for the first flight within fifteen months of the award.

The maximum level flight speed at 27,000 ft (8,230 m) had to be at least 468 mph (753 km/h).

The aircraft was to feature an air-conditioned pressurized cockpit.

Proposed armament was either eight 20 mm (.79 in) cannons or twelve 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns, mounted in the wings.

Two prototypes were ordered; the first designated XP-62 and the second designated XP-62A.

On 2 August 1941, the specifications were submitted for the XP-62 reducing the maximum speed to 448 mph (721 km/h) with eight 20 mm (.79 in) cannon armament and increasing the loaded weight by 1,537 lb (697 kg).

During a project review of 1 January 1942, the contract specification was again revised: the loaded weight would be reduced by eliminating four cannon and removing the propeller deicing equipment.

On 25 May 1942 a contract for 100 P-62 fighters was awarded.

Before construction could begin, on 27 July 1942 the contract was terminated as it would affect deliveries of urgently needed Curtiss-built P-47 Thunderbolts.

Testing
Delays in delivery of the unique pressure-cabin supercharger and engine modifications delayed the first flight of the XP-62 until 21 July 1943. The XP-62A was canceled on 21 September 1943 and only a limited amount of flight testing was conducted with the XP-62. Owing to its low priority work progressed slowly and in the autumn 1942 the XP-62 was scrapped. Because of the insufficient flight testing, full performance charactistics were not obtained.