Tucker XP-57

{{short description|Canceled fighter aircraft project}}

{{Infobox aircraft

|name =Tucker XP-57 "Peashooter"

|image =Tucker XP-57.jpg

|caption =

|type =Fighter

|manufacturer =Tucker Aviation Corporation

|designer =Preston Tucker

|first_flight =

|introduction =

|retired =

|status =Cancelled

|primary_user =

|more_users =

|produced =

|number_built =None

|unit cost =

|variants =

}}

Tucker XP-57 was the designation of a lightweight fighter which was proposed to the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) in 1940. Nicknamed the "Peashooter", it was developed by the Tucker Aviation Corporation under Preston Tucker, who later became famous for the Tucker '48 Sedan.

To minimize weight, the aircraft was to have a steel tubular frame with aluminum skin and plywood wings. The inline-8 engine, designed by Harry Miller of Indy 500 racing fame, was to sit behind the pilot in a configuration similar to the P-39 Airacobra. The USAAC ordered an XP-57 prototype. When design was delayed due to financial problems in the company, the contract was allowed to lapse. No production aircraft was built because the USAAC was moving towards larger fighters and had lost interest in the project.

Prototype specifications (XP-57)

{{Aircraft specs

|prime units? = imp

|crew=1

|length m=8.1

|length ft=26

|length in=7

|span m=8.7

|span ft=28

|span in=5

|height m=2.4

|height ft=8

|wing area sqm=11.1

|wing area sqft=120

|empty weight kg=1542

|empty weight lb=3400

|eng1 number=1

|eng1 name=Miller L-510 8-cylinder inline mounted at center behind pilot. Double propellers.

|eng1 kw=537

|eng1 hp=720

|max speed kmh=495

|max speed mph=308

|range km=960

|range miles=600

|armament =*3x 0.50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns

  • 1x 0.50 cal machine gun and 2× 20 mm cannon

}}

See also

{{Aircontent|

|related=

|similar aircraft=

}}

References

{{reflist}}

  • {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121002141543/http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=2261 |date=October 2, 2012 |title=The Official Web Site of National Museum of the USAF, Tucker XP-57}}
  • American Combat Planes, Ray Wagner, Third Enlarged Edition, Doubleday, 1982.
  • The American Fighter, Enzo Angelucci and Peter Bowers, Orion Books, 1987.

{{USAF fighters}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tucker Xp-57}}

Tucker P-57

Category:Single-engined piston aircraft

Category:Low-wing aircraft

Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear