AIRCRAFT >> EXPERIMENTAL >> XP-55
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Catalog Number:
1984.134
Location:
BLDG266, S133 HO
Description:
The Xp-55 Was One Of The Most Novel Fighters To Actually Be Constructed. Swept Wing And Canard Configuration Were Unusual Design Features In 1939 And It Was Selected By The Army For The 1939 Specifications For Unorthodox Designs. The Army Approved Construction Of Three Xp-55s On July 10, 1942. The First Xp-55--Now Named Ascender Was Lost During Stall Tests Nov 15, 1943, The Pilot Safely Abandoned.The Second And Third Aircraft Displayed Satisfactory Handling Characteristics But Was Overly Sensitive At Low Speeds. The Army Decided The Ascender Would Not Be An Effective Weapon.An Example Of The Xp-55 Ascender Has Been Preserved By The Smithsonian For Display In The National Aerospace Museum.
