P-61 Black Widow: I have several questions

[KJ_Lesnick]

I have several questions

1.) Why did the aircraft take on a twin-boom shape instead of the conventional single fuselage shape?  

2.) what refinements did they make to the P-61C to get so much extra speed out of it?

3.) Why was the nose so blunt looking (I know, to some degree, the radar necessitated certain nose-shapes, but the night-fighter variants of the F7F managed a more streamlined nose than the P-61)?

4.) Being that the A-26 was about the same weight as the P-61, had the same basic engine design as the P-61, was slower than the P-61, and had a heavier wing-loading than the P-61, and apparently a little less range (1,400 for the A-26, and 1,500 for the P-61) could Northrop have pitched the P-61 as some kind of attack-plane similar to the De Havilland Mosquito?

[Daryl J.]

KJ, I don't know for sure, but it seems from reading between the lines, there was a Humiliate Jack Northrop WhereEver Possible movement that was alive and well in US political/military circles.     

With that thought in mind it cheers me to see the F/A-18 series and the B-2 in service to the degree they are as compared to the designs of his contemporaries.   

Others know far more than I.......


Daryl J.

[KJ_Lesnick]

Daryl J.

KJ, I don't know for sure, but it seems from reading between the lines, there was a Humiliate Jack Northrop WhereEver Possible movement that was alive and well in US political/military circles.

Why?

[anthonyp]

KJ, search the internet for your questions before asking here.  There's all sorts of info on the P-61 out there.

[van883]

KJ, search the internet for your questions before asking here.  There's all sorts of info on the P-61 out there.

whats wrong with asking here?

Van

[GTX]

KJ, search the internet for your questions before asking here.  There's all sorts of info on the P-61 out there.

whats wrong with asking here?

Van

Asking questions is fine, but it gets extremely tiring and more than a little frustrating to be constantly bombarded with questions without ever contributing anything!

Regards,

Greg

[KJ_Lesnick]

Anthony P,

KJ, search the internet for your questions before asking here.  There's all sorts of info on the P-61 out there.

I did go on the internet regarding the P-61, however I have not been able to find an answer regarding the exact questions I've asked. 


GTX,

Asking questions is fine, but it gets extremely tiring and more than a little frustrating to be constantly bombarded with questions without ever contributing anything!

I don't know even what you guys consider a contribution?  I've came up with, and inspired a lot of ideas, which I suppose I could send you in a PM regarding a few rather than drag it out over here.