XP-72 prototype fighter

E843570

The XP-72 prototype fighter was an advanced, high-performance American World War II-era interceptor developed by Republic Aviation as a potential successor to the P-47 Thunderbolt.

Try in SPARQL Jump to: Statements Referenced by

Statements (42)

Predicate Object
instanceOf interceptor aircraft
prototype fighter aircraft
airframeBasis derived from P-47 Thunderbolt design
category World War II United States fighter aircraft
cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States
cockpitType enclosed cockpit
construction all-metal
countryOfOrigin United States of America
surface form: United States
crew 1
designation Republic XP-72 NERFINISHED
designedBy Republic Aviation engineering team
designedFor bomber interception
high-altitude interception
developedAs successor to P-47 Thunderbolt
developmentReason need for higher speed and climb than P-47 Thunderbolt
developmentStartYear 1943
engineType air-cooled radial piston engine
enteredService no
era World War II
firstFlightDate 1944-02-02
intendedArmament four 37 mm cannon (alternative proposal)
six 0.50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns
intendedMissionProfile short-range point-defense interception
landingGear retractable tailwheel landing gear
manufacturer Republic Aviation NERFINISHED
maxSpeed approximately 490 mph (790 km/h)
numberBuilt 2
operator United States Army Air Forces (test only) NERFINISHED
powerplant Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major NERFINISHED
programEndYear 1944
programScale limited to prototype evaluation
programStatus cancelled
propellerType contra-rotating propellers
propulsionConfiguration pusher-type contra-rotating propellers
reasonForCancellation shift in USAAF priorities to long-range escort and jet aircraft
role fighter aircraft
high-performance interceptor
serviceEntryPlanned no full production order placed
status prototype only
successorConcept superseded by emerging jet fighters
USAAFDesignation XP-72 NERFINISHED
wingConfiguration low-wing monoplane

Referenced by (1)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Republic Aviation designed XP-72 prototype fighter