Curtiss XP-55 Ascender
E688073
The Curtiss XP-55 Ascender was an experimental World War II–era American fighter prototype notable for its radical canard pusher configuration and unconventional aerodynamic design.
Statements (49)
| Predicate | Object |
|---|---|
| instanceOf |
experimental fighter aircraft
ⓘ
prototype aircraft ⓘ single-seat fighter ⓘ |
| airForceUser | United States Army Air Forces NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| armamentPlanned |
cannon
ⓘ
machine guns ⓘ |
| category |
World War II experimental aircraft of the United States
ⓘ
canard aircraft ⓘ pusher aircraft ⓘ single-engined tractor and pusher aircraft ⓘ |
| configuration |
canard
ⓘ
low-wing monoplane ⓘ pusher ⓘ |
| construction | all-metal airframe ⓘ |
| controlSurfaces |
ailerons on main wing
ⓘ
elevons on canard ⓘ |
| countryOfOrigin |
United States of America
ⓘ
surface form:
United States
|
| crew | 1 ⓘ |
| designer | Curtiss-Wright Corporation NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| developmentContext | United States Army Air Corps Request for Data R-40C ⓘ |
| engineConfiguration | single-engine ⓘ |
| era | World War II ⓘ |
| firstFlightDate | 1943-07-19 ⓘ |
| humorousNickname | Ass-ender NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| landingGear | retractable tricycle landing gear ⓘ |
| manufacturer | Curtiss-Wright Corporation NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| nickname | Ascender NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| notableFeature |
pusher propeller configuration
ⓘ
radical canard layout ⓘ unconventional aerodynamic design ⓘ |
| numberBuilt | 3 ⓘ |
| powerplant | Allison V-1710 engine NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| programOutcome | not ordered into production ⓘ |
| programType | experimental design study ⓘ |
| propellerPosition | rear-mounted pusher propeller ⓘ |
| propulsion | piston engine ⓘ |
| prototypeDesignation | XP-55 NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| reasonForNoProduction |
handling and stability concerns
ⓘ
performance inferior to contemporary fighters ⓘ |
| role | fighter aircraft ⓘ |
| safetyFeature | jettisonable propeller for pilot bailout ⓘ |
| status |
prototype only
ⓘ
retired ⓘ |
| survivorCount | 1 ⓘ |
| survivorLocation | Air Zoo Aerospace & Science Museum, Kalamazoo, Michigan NERFINISHED ⓘ |
| tailConfiguration | twin vertical fins ⓘ |
| usedFor |
aerodynamic research
ⓘ
evaluation of unconventional fighter layouts ⓘ |
| wingType | swept wing ⓘ |
Referenced by (1)
Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.