- Joined
- 25 June 2009
- Messages
- 14,109
- Reaction score
- 4,246
Bell Model 32 lightweight fighter (USAAF XP-77)
- Thread starter Stargazer
- Start date
- Joined
- 25 June 2009
- Messages
- 14,109
- Reaction score
- 4,246
- Joined
- 25 June 2009
- Messages
- 14,109
- Reaction score
- 4,246
- Joined
- 25 June 2009
- Messages
- 14,109
- Reaction score
- 4,246
Good stuff! 
FutureSpaceTourist
ACCESS: Top Secret
- Joined
- 10 March 2010
- Messages
- 589
- Reaction score
- 30
Some great images, thank you!
Am I the only one who on first glance at this picture:
thought that it's unusual to do a wind tunnel test of how an aircraft flies when the maintenance enginer forgot to climb down before take-off? ;D
Am I the only one who on first glance at this picture:
thought that it's unusual to do a wind tunnel test of how an aircraft flies when the maintenance enginer forgot to climb down before take-off? ;D
saturncanuck
Any landing you can walk away from, is a good one.
Anyone know the fate of the first XP-77? It was supposed to have been displayed at "Wood City" after the war, but after that it is a blank...
XP67_Moonbat
ACCESS: Top Secret
- Joined
- 16 January 2008
- Messages
- 2,259
- Reaction score
- 460
Courtesy of our very own Jared, an article on an improved XP-77.
http://retromechanix.com/article/fighters/proposal-for-improved-bell-xp-77-1944/
http://retromechanix.com/article/fighters/proposal-for-improved-bell-xp-77-1944/
Beat me to it again, XP67_Moonbat! Just want everyone to know that the Bell XP-77 article at RetroMechanix.com reproduces a vintage Bell report providing an excellent history of this unusual fighter prototype up to mid-1944, one of the best summaries I've come across. The end of the document also features a proposal for an improved all-metal version with a turbosupercharger and a bubble canopy, as shown immediately below. The accompanying gallery features 37 images, including several high resolution photos and drawings.
-Jared
Just want everyone to know that the Bell XP-77 article at RetroMechanix.com reproduces a vintage Bell report providing an excellent history of this unusual fighter prototype up to mid-1944, one of the best summaries I've come across. The end of the document also features a proposal for an improved all-metal version with a turbosupercharger and a bubble canopy, as shown immediately below. The accompanying gallery features 37 images, including several high resolution photos and drawings.
-Jared
Johnbr
ACCESS: Top Secret
- Joined
- 6 May 2007
- Messages
- 753
- Reaction score
- 311
Great on the XP-77 also love the report on the Avro VTOL Fighter.
- Joined
- 8 March 2009
- Messages
- 1,014
- Reaction score
- 1,114
This reminds me of some xp-77 info I found in a naca report.
It is from spin testing in a wind tunnel. The main point of interest is the different tail configurations tested on the xp-77.
The PDF also has similar detail on the xp-69, xp-75, xp-71, ect. http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20090025259&hterms=xp-77&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2520matchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D10%26Ntt%3Dxp-77#
It is from spin testing in a wind tunnel. The main point of interest is the different tail configurations tested on the xp-77.
The PDF also has similar detail on the xp-69, xp-75, xp-71, ect. http://ntrs.nasa.gov/search.jsp?R=20090025259&hterms=xp-77&qs=Ntx%3Dmode%2520matchall%26Ntk%3DAll%26N%3D0%26No%3D10%26Ntt%3Dxp-77#
Attachments
Very cool, sienar! I will add the link to that report in my article. Some of the tail configurations remind me of those tested on the Bell P-39/P-63.
- Joined
- 8 March 2009
- Messages
- 1,014
- Reaction score
- 1,114
Two pieces of bell artwork. I'm not sure how accurately the cutaway represents the final arrangement of the prototype aircraft as this has the earlier tail and cowling design.
There are 2 documents concerning the handling of the bell Xp-77 located in this much larger document here (be warned, its a near 100mb pdf); http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19770022115_1977022115.pdf
The relevant reports are on pages 232 and 316.
Again, the version wind tunnel tested here is pre enlarged vert stab. The reports note mostly satisfactory handling and a high rate of roll, but unsatisfactory stability with flaps deflected for landing and climb under power with flaps partially deflected, as well as instability due to sideslip in some speed regimens.
However the main thing of interest in this document is the mention of a high and low altitude version of the Xp-77, but not much info is given. Apparently the high altitude version was to have a larger diameter propeller (10.5') and a different line of thrust. Power is listed as 515 military and 450 nominal for the low altitude version with a critical alt of 12,000' and the high altitude version of approximately the same power ratings and a critical altitude of 27,000'
Given the date of the report I do not believe the high alt version described here is the improved xp-7 discussed above.
The 3-view here is from the above report because, well, it never hurts to have more 3 views!
There are 2 documents concerning the handling of the bell Xp-77 located in this much larger document here (be warned, its a near 100mb pdf); http://ntrs.nasa.gov/archive/nasa/casi.ntrs.nasa.gov/19770022115_1977022115.pdf
The relevant reports are on pages 232 and 316.
Again, the version wind tunnel tested here is pre enlarged vert stab. The reports note mostly satisfactory handling and a high rate of roll, but unsatisfactory stability with flaps deflected for landing and climb under power with flaps partially deflected, as well as instability due to sideslip in some speed regimens.
However the main thing of interest in this document is the mention of a high and low altitude version of the Xp-77, but not much info is given. Apparently the high altitude version was to have a larger diameter propeller (10.5') and a different line of thrust. Power is listed as 515 military and 450 nominal for the low altitude version with a critical alt of 12,000' and the high altitude version of approximately the same power ratings and a critical altitude of 27,000'
Given the date of the report I do not believe the high alt version described here is the improved xp-7 discussed above.
The 3-view here is from the above report because, well, it never hurts to have more 3 views!
Attachments
- Joined
- 5 May 2007
- Messages
- 349
- Reaction score
- 384
Nice. Those last two also feature Bell test pilot Jack Woolams (1917-1946).sienar said:
- Joined
- 8 March 2009
- Messages
- 1,014
- Reaction score
- 1,114
From Niagara Aerospace Museum
Attachments
-
413114_10150726063445997_1292856639_o (1).jpg -
400662_10151361231150997_1640333362_n (3).jpg -
10472816_10152301560330997_672369261892663182_o (2).jpg -
10700772_10152301559300997_1753672370643273368_o (2).jpg -
10644235_10152301558990997_1489940496151886451_o (2).jpg -
919118_10151361178205997_476858115_o (1).jpg
Similar threads
-
-
-
Convair Model 107 passenger transport project
- Started by Stargazer
- Replies: 5
-
Huff-Daland XHB-1 Cyclops / Atlantic Fokker XHB-2 bombers (1926)
- Started by Stargazer
- Replies: 4
-