XP-77

[MIflyer]

Attached is a little article on the XP-77 that offers additional insight into the airplane's design.

By the way that 12 cylinder Ranger engine was not well loved. I know a guy who has one installed in an Me-108 and he has been working on it for decades.

 

[Shortround6]

I would note that this article makes the common mistake of calling single stage supercharged engines unsupercharged.
http://rgl.faa.gov/Regulatory_and_G...5b3e8525670c00530629/$FILE/ATTZ1Q1K/TC232.pdf

All the 500hp and above C series Ranger V-12s used a mechanically driven supercharger and in fact the B series engines all had superchargers.

I have no idea if a turbo was planned or not, some sources claim that a Szydlowsky-Planiol supercharger was to be used instead of the normal one.
At some point a Szydlowsky-Planiol supercharger was fitted to a Ranger V-12 but it was a 'D' series engine and may have been post war.
One was fitted to an AT-6

I would note that in order to get a gun to fire through the prop

They used a larger reduction gear set and mounted the gun on top of the engine to fire through the propeller shaft. This is NOT set up for the gun.

 

[MIflyer]

Yes, that is a common error. And it is complicated by an error often made in articles written the WWII era in which they identified engines with two speed superchargers as "two stage superchargers."

Few people realize that even the trainer aircraft such as the BT-13 and AT-6 had superchargers. Engine driven superchargers for military aircraft in WWII were more common than not.

 

[blueskies]

I have no idea if a turbo was planned or not

There was a turbocharged version of the Ranger proposed for a further development of the XP-77. It was failry substantially reworked with the cockpit moved above the wing and a more conventional bubble canopy. It was also to be made entirely of aluminum.

 

[GregP]

Any drawings or mockup pics? Your description is good, but it leaves me wanting to see something ... alas, it may not exist.

 

[blueskies]

Proposal for Improved Bell XP-77 (1944)

 

[MIflyer]

Mock-up in the NACA wind tunnel

 

[MIflyer]

Any of y'all ever read the Dean Ing SF story that featured an XP-77 modified with an H202 powered supercharger?

 

[GregP]

Have not, but would like to. Do you recall the correct name of the story? If not, I'll search for the author.

 

[johnbr]

Niagara Aerospace Museum

 

[MIflyer]

Nice Shots!

Any of y'all ever read the Dean Ing SF story about the XP-77?

 

[johnbr]

bell xp-77 - Bing images

 

[johnbr]

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/20090025259.pdf

 

[Capt. Vick]

While looking through this recent purchase...

...I came across the following picture...

...and noticed something familiar in the background...

...I had seen that tail before. A quick web search turned up...

...this and this (two different locations?)...

Working from the assumption that we are seeing the XP-77 in her final days (note the bogus markings, type name and number painted on her nose, canopy slightly open to the elements as well as spinner and canopy frame paint), having been put out on display somewhere with the Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate. Maybe if the Ki-84 still exists we can learn from it's history where this photo was taken, and maybe what ultimately happened to the XP-77, seeing as it's final disposition has been lost to history. It's a thought anyway...

 

[fubar57]

Great job, Sherlock

 

[Capt. Vick]

Thanks.

 

[Reluctant Poster]

Proposal for Improved Bell XP-77 (1944)

Since it is a Bell aircraft I have to ask if the weight includes IFF and nose armor.

 

[Graeme]

Good morning Holmes!

Your "Frank" is a wooden Ki-106?

Asisbiz Nakajima Ki 106 wooden Aframe Ki 84 sn T2 301 Tachikawa new production model late 1945-01

Asisbiz Nakajima Ki-84 Hayate (Gale) in a nutshell Nakajima Ki 106 wooden Aframe Ki 84 sn T2 301 Tachikawa new production model late 1945-01

www.asisbiz.com

And we have a wooden XP-77 nearby.

Is it possible Holmes, there was a place in the USA, early post war, called Wood City where wooden products were proudly displayed?
All the XP-77 photos you've uploaded - according to Peter Bowers - are captioned as Wood City, October 1946.

Yet Googling Wood City gets me nowhere? Wood County maybe?

Your ever faithful servant,
Dr Watson.

Sorry, I haven't been to Baker St recently - presently, can't climb the stairs!
Shot by Moriarty...

 

[Shortround6]

Since it is a Bell aircraft I have to ask if the weight includes IFF and nose armor.

Only if built to a British contract.

 

[Graeme]

Pretty certain Holmes the wooden aircraft were moved around on that 'park' area.
I'm sure this is the same house in the background...

The XP-77 in the lower photo has now been moved far LEFT of the Frank.

Whatdoyathink?