Engineering Division TP-1
{{Short description|American fighter aircraft}}
__NOTOC__
| {{Infobox Aircraft Begin
|name=TP-1 / XCO-5 |image=XCO-5 and Lt Macready.JPG |caption=XCO-5 }}{{Infobox Aircraft Type |type=Biplane fighter |national origin=United States |manufacturer=Engineering Division |designer=Alfred V. Verville |first flight= |introduced= |retired= |status= |primary user= |number built=2 |developed from= |variants with their own articles= }} |
The Engineering Division TP-1 was a two-seat biplane fighter designed by Alfred V. Verville and Virginius E. Clark at the United States Army Air Corps Engineering Division. A second aircraft was completed as an observation biplane and designated the Engineering Division XCO-5.
Development
The prototype TP-1 was built as the XTP-1 and tested at McCook Field in 1923. A biplane, the upper wing had a smaller span and narrower chord than the lower wing. The XTP-1 was armed with five {{convert|.30|in|mm|2|abbr=on}} machine guns and fitted with a {{convert|423|hp|kW|lk=in|abbr=on}} Liberty 12 engine. A second prototype was completed as an observation/reconnaissance aircraft with the designation XCO-5.
The XCO-5 needed a high-lift wing suitable for high-altitude work. New wings were prepared. The aerofoil was Joukowsky StAe-27A, a heavily cambered wingshape with a thick leading edge. The upper and lower wings had a pronounced stagger, with a total wing area of 600 ft2. As well as lining and insulating the cockpit, heat was taken from the engine exhaust. A cover over the top of the cockpit kept the heat in; a clear panel in the cover allowed the pilot to see his instruments.Flight p68
Operational history
On October 10, 1928, Bill Streett and Albert William Stevens achieved an unofficial altitude record in the XCO-5 for aircraft carrying more than one person: {{convert|37854|ft|m|abbr=on}}; less than {{convert|1000|ft|m|abbr=on}} short of the official single-person altitude record. At that height they measured a temperature of {{convert|-78|°F|°C|abbr=on}}, cold enough to freeze the aircraft controls. With frozen controls, Streett was unable to reduce altitude or to turn off the engine until some 20 minutes later when it ran out of fuel, after which he piloted the fragile experimental biplane down in a gentle glide and made a deadstick landing.
Variants
Operators
;{{Flag|United States|1912}}
Specifications
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=The American FighterAngelucci and Bowers 1987, p. 199.
|prime units?=imp
|crew=2
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=25
|length in=1
|span m=
|span ft=36
|span in=0
|height m=
|height ft=10
|height in=0
|wing area sqm=
|wing area sqft=375
|airfoil=
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=2748
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=4363
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Liberty L-12
|eng1 type=water-cooled V12 engine
|eng1 kw=
|eng1 hp=423
|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=129
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at sea level
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=117
|cruise speed kts=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|range km=
|range miles=
|range nmi=
|endurance=3.95 hr
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=13450
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=495
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|power/mass met=
|power/mass imp=
|guns=
- 2 × fixed forward firing {{convert|.30|in|mm|2|abbr=on}} machine guns
- 2 × flexibly-mounted .30-in machine guns in rear cockpit
- 1 × .30-in machine gun firing through ventral grille
}}
See also
{{aircontent
|see also=
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
}}
References
{{reflist|refs=
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Bibliography
{{commons category|Engineering Division TP-1}}
{{refbegin}}
- {{cite book |last= Andrade |first= John |title= U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909|year=1979 |publisher=Midland Counties Publications|isbn= 0-904597-22-9}}
- {{cite book |last1=Angelucci |first1=Enzo |last2=Bowers|first2=Peter M.|authorlink2=Peter M. Bowers| title=The American Fighter |year=1987 |publisher=Haynes |location=Sparkford, UK |isbn= 0-85429-635-2}}
- {{citation |url=http://www.flightglobal.com/pdfarchive/view/1926/1926%20-%200080.html |title=A Fine American Altitude Flight |journal=Flight |date=4 February 1926 |page=68 }}
{{refend}}
{{Engineering Division aircraft}}
{{lone designation|system=USAAS two-seat pursuit aircraft|designation=TP-1 }}
{{USAAS observation aircraft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Engineering Division TP-1}}
Category:1920s United States fighter aircraft
Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft