- Thread starter
-
- #21
Donivanp
Major
There have been a few questions concerning the P/F-82 project so I figured a quick overview would help.
In January 1944 Gen Henry "Hap" Arnold was visiting the North American (NA) plant and was asking about a long range fighter to fly the escorts for the B-29 from their bases and back. At that time Iwo Jima was not in the Americans hands and the future of the war was still in question. NA and was discussing it with Ed Schmued pulled out a sketch he had made of the concept. And Arnold endorsed the idea on the spot. A contract (AC-2029) was issued by February 1944.
This was a hot issue at the time as not even the P-51 had the range to escort the B-29 from exiting bases.
Cutting to the chase the XP-82 has almost nothing in common with the P-51 with something like 8 items interchangeable. The P-82B (Merlin powered) and F-82E (Allison powered) were long range escort fighter with both cockpits the same. The idea being one pilot fly with the other is on break. The F and G ( both Allison powered) were night fighters with a pod slung between the two fuselages. This carried the radar and avionics for that system.
The P-82B was powered by two Packard Merlin V-1560-19/21 engines counter rotating props like the P-38 and could reach 482MPH with a range of 2600 miles with wing takes, normal range 1390 miles. Also the B could climb to 41,600 feet.
The E with the two Allison V-1710-143/145 was capable of 465 mps and a range of 2174 with external tanks. Altitude capped out at 38,400 feet. The F and G were similar to the E but slightly slower (8mph) and longer range at 2400 miles.
All had six .50 Browning machine guns in the center wing section and could carry bomb and rockets.
As it turned out Iwo Jima was captured and the P-51D (1600 mile) and P-47N could operate from there, still at near max combat range for both.
The P/F-82 was based of the XP-51F (which was the bases of the H) with a six feet longer (nine feet longer with the G) than the P-51H.
XP-82 3 built, on is flying today and one in a museum, third scrapped. P-82B 20 built out of a contracted 270 but only the 20 were built. Of the twenty built, Only "Betty Jo" which flew nonstop from Hickam field Hawaii to LaGuardia Long Island, New York in 31 hours and 50 seconds, resides in the National Museum of the U. S Air Force, Dayton Ohio.
Of 230 E's were contracted for 100 were completed after long a delay (two years) due to problems with Allison engines. These aircraft were scraped almost as quickly as they were built as the new jet fighters were coming off the line at the same time.
The tenth and eleventh P-82B were pulled from the line to become the P-82C and P-82D. The C installed the SCR 720 radar and the D had the AN/APG-28 which was an improved APS-4 radar.
There were 100 F-82F models built off the P-82D variant and an additional forty five G models built with the C concept.
X-P82 3 ea
P-82B 20 ea (including the C and the D)
F-82E 100 ea
F-82F 100 ea
F-82 G 45 ea
One XP-82 has been restored to flying condition and one F-82E in in restoration to flying condition.
Two P-82B aircraft are on display, both are at the USAF museum at Dayton, Betty Jo is displayed as she flew her long distance flight and a second was restored as G with out the long dong radar pod. This aircraft had been flown by the CAF until a crash in 1986 and could not be repaired to flying condition. It was later reclaimed to the USAF museum and the restoration to a G was accomplished, not flyable.
There are two E models persevered as well. One is on static display at the air park at Lackland AFB, TX and the other is going through flyable restoration after being acquired from the Walter Soplata collection.
In January 1944 Gen Henry "Hap" Arnold was visiting the North American (NA) plant and was asking about a long range fighter to fly the escorts for the B-29 from their bases and back. At that time Iwo Jima was not in the Americans hands and the future of the war was still in question. NA and was discussing it with Ed Schmued pulled out a sketch he had made of the concept. And Arnold endorsed the idea on the spot. A contract (AC-2029) was issued by February 1944.
This was a hot issue at the time as not even the P-51 had the range to escort the B-29 from exiting bases.
Cutting to the chase the XP-82 has almost nothing in common with the P-51 with something like 8 items interchangeable. The P-82B (Merlin powered) and F-82E (Allison powered) were long range escort fighter with both cockpits the same. The idea being one pilot fly with the other is on break. The F and G ( both Allison powered) were night fighters with a pod slung between the two fuselages. This carried the radar and avionics for that system.
The P-82B was powered by two Packard Merlin V-1560-19/21 engines counter rotating props like the P-38 and could reach 482MPH with a range of 2600 miles with wing takes, normal range 1390 miles. Also the B could climb to 41,600 feet.
The E with the two Allison V-1710-143/145 was capable of 465 mps and a range of 2174 with external tanks. Altitude capped out at 38,400 feet. The F and G were similar to the E but slightly slower (8mph) and longer range at 2400 miles.
All had six .50 Browning machine guns in the center wing section and could carry bomb and rockets.
As it turned out Iwo Jima was captured and the P-51D (1600 mile) and P-47N could operate from there, still at near max combat range for both.
The P/F-82 was based of the XP-51F (which was the bases of the H) with a six feet longer (nine feet longer with the G) than the P-51H.
XP-82 3 built, on is flying today and one in a museum, third scrapped. P-82B 20 built out of a contracted 270 but only the 20 were built. Of the twenty built, Only "Betty Jo" which flew nonstop from Hickam field Hawaii to LaGuardia Long Island, New York in 31 hours and 50 seconds, resides in the National Museum of the U. S Air Force, Dayton Ohio.
Of 230 E's were contracted for 100 were completed after long a delay (two years) due to problems with Allison engines. These aircraft were scraped almost as quickly as they were built as the new jet fighters were coming off the line at the same time.
The tenth and eleventh P-82B were pulled from the line to become the P-82C and P-82D. The C installed the SCR 720 radar and the D had the AN/APG-28 which was an improved APS-4 radar.
There were 100 F-82F models built off the P-82D variant and an additional forty five G models built with the C concept.
X-P82 3 ea
P-82B 20 ea (including the C and the D)
F-82E 100 ea
F-82F 100 ea
F-82 G 45 ea
One XP-82 has been restored to flying condition and one F-82E in in restoration to flying condition.
Two P-82B aircraft are on display, both are at the USAF museum at Dayton, Betty Jo is displayed as she flew her long distance flight and a second was restored as G with out the long dong radar pod. This aircraft had been flown by the CAF until a crash in 1986 and could not be repaired to flying condition. It was later reclaimed to the USAF museum and the restoration to a G was accomplished, not flyable.
There are two E models persevered as well. One is on static display at the air park at Lackland AFB, TX and the other is going through flyable restoration after being acquired from the Walter Soplata collection.