P-61 Without Turret

[wuzak]

wuzak

No, I don't mean modifying the P-61A's that had the turret; I mean that the P-61B's would just be built with the bubble.  I'm curious if the XP-61E required retooling to make it work?

Yes, the P-61A was in production, so they would have to change tooling to put the P-61B (with bubble canopy) into production.

The XP-61E, as a prototype, was most modified from an earlier version and would not have used production tooling.

The F-15 Reporter would have required new tooling for it to enter production.

[KJ_Lesnick]

wuzak

Yes, the P-61A was in production, so they would have to change tooling to put the P-61B (with bubble canopy) into production.

The XP-61E, as a prototype, was most modified from an earlier version and would not have used production tooling.

The F-15 Reporter would have required new tooling for it to enter production.

Understood

I'm curious if they should have put the turbocharger in the design from the outset?


BTW: Do you think the US Government would have been receptive to a "study" that would have revealed greater speed and range for the elimination of the turret?  I'm just looking for a straight answer.

[wuzak]

wuzak

Yes, the P-61A was in production, so they would have to change tooling to put the P-61B (with bubble canopy) into production.

The XP-61E, as a prototype, was most modified from an earlier version and would not have used production tooling.

The F-15 Reporter would have required new tooling for it to enter production.

Understood

I'm curious if they should have put the turbocharger in the design from the outset?


BTW: Do you think the US Government would have been receptive to a "study" that would have revealed greater speed and range for the elimination of the turret?  I'm just looking for a straight answer.

Speed was not a great issue for a night fighter when the P-61 was proposed/designed. The P-61A/B would mots likely have been judged to have sufficient speed.

[KJ_Lesnick]

wuzak

Speed was not a great issue for a night fighter when the P-61 was proposed/designed.

True, but range was: If extra range and endurance could be promised, it wouldn't have meant anything significant?

The P-61A/B would mots likely have been judged to have sufficient speed.

What problems would the turbos have had overall in penalties?  The volume and everything

[sandiego89]

BTW: Do you think the US Government would have been receptive to a "study" that would have revealed greater speed and range for the elimination of the turret?  I'm just looking for a straight answer.

No.  If the design was meeting the specifications of what was called for (night fighter with turrets, desired speed, long range/endurance, etc.) there would be little interest in trying new things.  The primary focus was getting aircraft quickly produced as per the specifications.  There were some studies initiated, but usually to meet an government initiated desire.     

[KJ_Lesnick]

sandiego89

No.  If the design was meeting the specifications of what was called for (night fighter with turrets, desired speed, long range/endurance, etc.) there would be little interest in trying new things.

Okay, just out of curiosity: What speeds were called for?  I know they wanted turret armament and an eight hour loiter...

The primary focus was getting aircraft quickly produced as per the specifications.

And if ditching the turret would have made the airplane able to get into the air faster and made it more effective?

There were some studies initiated, but usually to meet an government initiated desire.

Okay