Fisher P-75 Eagle Brochure from May 1944

[jzichek]

Just posted a new article at RetroMechanix.com presenting a very rare 51 page document on the Fisher P-75 Eagle:



It contains numerous high resolution detail photos and drawings of this flawed but not entirely unappealing aircraft, one of a handful of types powered by the mighty 24 cylinder Allison V-3420. Many of the photos are heavily retouched and portray an interesting intermediate stage between the original XP-75 and the final P-75A, retaining the Douglas-style tail of the former but having the bubble canopy of the latter. Ideal information for the modeler, historian, or general enthusiast wishing to get an in depth look at GM's failed foray into fighter aircraft design.

-Jared

[GTX]

 

[IanH]

Ian Like...

[kitnut617]

I was amazed to read just recently that this aircraft still survives.  There was a photo taken of it in 1978 when it was rolled out for some occasion at Wright Patterson, which has appeared in my last Air-Britain quarterly.

[rallymodeller]

It was on display at the Air Force Museum last time I was there, IIRC. Pretty damned big, for a WWII prop fighter.

[The Big Gimper]

Excellent reference material. Thanks for sharing.

[Jschmus]

It was on display at the Air Force Museum last time I was there, IIRC. Pretty damned big, for a WWII prop fighter.

It's in the Research & Development Wing:

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?id=8754

[KJ_Lesnick]

Why did the P-75 fly and the Davis Manta not fly?  The both had an amidships engine?

[icchan]

Man, that plane with a ~25 degree sweep to the wings and tail structure...

[Jschmus]

Why did the P-75 fly and the Davis Manta not fly?  The both had an amidships engine?

I don't know for sure, but the Manta was financed by the company that built it.  Theirs was an unsolicited design.  It came near the beginning of America's direct involvement in the war, and they just may not have been able to get any government backing.  It also looks like they only built a mockup.  If it had reached the actual hardware stage, the story may have ended differently.

The P-75 was designed in response to an actual Army Air Force requirement for a fast-climbing interceptor.  Fisher cut corners with their prototype by using off-the-shelf components from existing aircraft.  By the time the aircraft were ready, the interceptor requirement had evaporated, and it took a lot of work to alter the aircraft into a long-range escort fighter.  Unfortunately, neither the prototypes nor the production airplanes performed to their projected specs.  In fact their performance was judged no better than preexisting types already in service.

[Scooterman]

Taken at USAFM (or whatever its called now) April this year. MASSIVE airframe.

[PR19_Kit]

Wow, that IS big!

What are those twin tapered fairings right behind the prop on the cowling? Are they the gun muzzles?

[icchan]

What are those twin tapered fairings right behind the prop on the cowling? Are they the gun muzzles?

Yup, a quad mount of 20s in the nose.

[kitnut617]

What are those twin tapered fairings right behind the prop on the cowling? Are they the gun muzzles?

Yup, a quad mount of 20s in the nose.

I've read they were to be .5's, these four and another three in each wing

[icchan]

...you're right; that teaches me to post that early in the morning