Curtiss XP-55 Ascender canard fighter (Model CW-24)

overscan (PaulMM) · 16 August 2009

http://cgi.ebay.com/CURTISS-XP-55-ASCENDER-TAILLESS-PROTOTYPE-42-78846-1943_W0QQitemZ370244184141QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item563445e84d&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

$99? Seems expensive.

Steve Pace · 28 November 2009

That's the CW-24B subscale flyable prototype for the XP-55.

Stargazer · 29 November 2009

XB-70 Guy said:
That's the CW-24B subscale flyable prototype for the XP-55.

Certainly looks it! Yet I'm puzzled because:
1°) it's the first time I've seen the CW-24B in drab, usually it's the pre-1942 yellow airframe with striped fins and USAAC roundels...
2°) the CW-24B had an inline engine, an exhaust underneath the engine, a small cowling and bottom fin. None of all this appears in this photograph... (see attached pictures for reference).

overscan said:
$99? Seems expensive.

Certainly is!

(but then if it IS a genuine CW-24B alternate configuration, depending on the size of the picture and its state of conservation, and provided it is indeed a certified (stamped at the back) Curtiss-Wright or USAAF original, it could very well be worth it (if you have that kind of money of course, which I don't...).

Steve Pace · 29 November 2009

Maybe it's just the lighting?.....

Stargazer · 29 November 2009

XB-70 Guy said:
Maybe it's just the lighting?.....

For the bottom fin, I'd say maybe... but the cowling and engine definitely look different, and the paint job is clearly drab overall, the national markings are the 1941-1945 ones...

Steve Pace · 29 November 2009

The prop spinner looks rather large as well to me...

Bailey · 29 November 2009

I don't claim to be an expert here, but after blowing up the photo as large as I could, I think it is the XP-55. There appears to be a definite bulge in front of the top fin, and the undercarriage looks like it is retractable.

Cheers Baily

Steve Pace · 29 November 2009

You just might be right.

Steve Pace · 29 November 2009

FYI: The CW-29B made its first flight on December 2, 1941 at what is now Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB, CA.

Stargazer · 29 November 2009

XB-70 Guy said:
FYI: The CW-29B made its first flight on December 2, 1941 at what is now Rogers Dry Lake at Edwards AFB, CA.

You mean the CW-24A !!!

Bailey · 29 November 2009

Found another photo which I think was taken on the same day and location, based on the aircraft's angle on hardstanding and the paving blocks in the foreground.

Regards Bailey.

Steve Pace · 29 November 2009

Two more -

Justo Miranda · 29 November 2009

additional info-post-1

Justo Miranda · 29 November 2009

additional info-post-2

Justo Miranda · 29 November 2009

additional info-post-3

Justo Miranda · 29 November 2009

additional info-post-4

Antonio · 29 November 2009

Amazing Justo again,

Thanks for that superb collection of images

¡1x10E6 Gracias!

Antonio

Stargazer · 29 November 2009

Justo, I cannot start to thank you enough for you escanears... I'm a Curtiss buff (preparing a website on the subject, by the way) and many of these I had not seen before. Also I have that MPM 1:72 model of the XP-55 that has been waiting for 8 years to be done... and all this material will be of tremendous help when I get around to it! (how I wish it had existed in 1:48 scale...)

AeroFranz · 29 November 2009

Stargazer2006 said:
Justo, I cannot start to thank you enough for you escanears... I'm a Curtiss buff (preparing a website on the subject, by the way)

do you have To join with the eagles? It should be a pretty good reference for your needs. Looking forward to seeing your pages!

http://www.amazon.com/Join-Eagles-Complete-Illustrated-Curtiss-Wright/dp/038502794X

Steve Pace · 30 November 2009

Good stuff!

elmayerle · 1 December 2009

I've seen a drawing of one version of Lockheed's L-133 that resembled a jet-version, with bubble canopy, of the XP-55 and included a side view of a much-modified CW-24B as a testbed. Fortunately, I *did* save that one from the LM archives.

Stargazer · 1 December 2009

Awesome find! Looks like the Lockheed Model 30 to me...

Steve Pace · 1 December 2009

Lockheed Model 30 in my book LOCKHEED AIRCRAFT SINCE 1913 says "proposed twin-engine attack bomber with canard foreplanes."

redstar72 · 1 December 2009

One more XP-55 drawing - this time from Czech L+K 19/1980, by Stanislav Smekal:

Stargazer · 1 December 2009

Okay, so now I'm home and I can access my files. Lockheed worked on two distinct canard combat projects: the first one was the L-133, a stainless steel twin-engine jet fighter, and the L-137, a high-altitude bomber project competing for Type Specification ~~XC-124~~ XC-214 against the B-27 and B-28 (not to be mistaken with the L-129, competing for the same spec but with a conventional configuration). The L-137 was also called the Model 30 and is portrayed in the various attached pictures. I believe the artwork you found is another take on that selfsame project.

Steve Pace · 1 December 2009

Do I see a bomb bay? Could it be a twin engine attack bomber?

elmayerle · 1 December 2009

Stargazer2006 said:
Okay, so now I'm home and I can access my files. Lockheed worked on two distinct canard combat projects: the first one was the L-133, a stainless steel twin-engine jet fighter, and the L-137, a high-altitude bomber project competing for Type Specification XC-124 against the B-27 and B-28 (not to be mistaken with the L-129, competing for the same spec but with a conventional configuration). The L-137 was also called the Model 30 and is portrayed in the various attached pictures. I believe the artwork you found is another take on that selfsame project.

As far as I know, what I posted was a jet fighter study - that's how it was labelled int eh archives.

Stargazer · 2 December 2009

elmayerle said:
Stargazer2006 said:

Okay, so now I'm home and I can access my files. Lockheed worked on two distinct canard combat projects: the first one was the L-133, a stainless steel twin-engine jet fighter, and the L-137, a high-altitude bomber project competing for Type Specification XC-124 against the B-27 and B-28 (not to be mistaken with the L-129, competing for the same spec but with a conventional configuration). The L-137 was also called the Model 30 and is portrayed in the various attached pictures. I believe the artwork you found is another take on that selfsame project.

Click to expand...

As far as I know, what I posted was a jet fighter study - that's how it was labelled int eh archives.

I see. Then I don't know what to think about it. The configuration is close to the L-137... and VERY different from the L-133 fighter proposal. Could it be that the L-137 evolved from a late, tailless, swept-wing variation of the L-133?

XP67_Moonbat · 2 December 2009

I think maybe at this the mods would consider renaming this thread "Early US Canard Projects" or something like that.

Mark Nankivil · 2 December 2009

One of the XP-55 Ascender prototypes (No.2 42-78846) still exists and was fully restored by the Kalamazoo Air Zoo a few years back. In '07, I visited the museum and photographed it in detail. I can post photos if anyone is interested. It is impressive to see in person. Turns out too that the Father of a friend of mine here in St. Louis worked on the Ascender and was responsible for the fuselage design.

Gerald Balzer did a 3 or 4 part series in AAHS (American Aviation Historical Society) on the XP-55 and also covered The XP-54, XP-55, and XP-56 in a new book:

http://www.specialtypress.com/vstore/showdetl.cfm?DID=8&Product_ID=1847&CATID=1

Excellent book - I'd recommend it.

Steve Pace · 2 December 2009

I'd love to see your XP-55 pictures, Mark!

Stargazer · 2 December 2009

Mark Nankivil said:
Turns out too that the Father of a friend of mine here in St. Louis worked on the Ascender and was responsible for the fuselage design.

Amazing! Could you possibly have him interviewed so you can collect his memories before they are lost forever? There are probably very few former Curtiss employees still alive to share their anecdotes and general feeling about that era, so every testimony is precious...

Mark Nankivil · 2 December 2009

Sadly he in no longer with us. Bob showed me the photos of his Father the design team with the XP-55 (first prototype I believe). I need to talk him into letting me scan them...

I'll work on resizing the images of Ascender at the Air Zoo and post them soon. They really did a great job with it. The NASM should be proud they loaned it to them!

Enjoy the Day! Mark

Mark Nankivil · 2 December 2009

Here you go...

Enjoy the Day! Mark

Steve Pace · 2 December 2009

Beautiful. Thanks so much!

overscan (PaulMM) · 3 December 2009

Great photos! What camera do you use?

Stargazer · 3 December 2009

Amazing photos! Some details I'd never seen before in other photos, for which I'm grateful!

What spoils this fantastic restoration job a little is the use of a modern non-USAAF font for the writings underneath the cockpit (me and my perfectionism... :

)

Would you, by any chance, have a better (as in frontal) picture showing the "Curtiss Ascender" logo? I would love to use it for my website!

borovik · 3 December 2009

SUPERB, Mark B)

There are a couple of colored reconstructions of the magazine "Aero PK Revue", but they also do not have the technical fonts (and of course they fade to the background of "live" Ascender's) ))

Mark Nankivil · 3 December 2009

Here you go Stargazer....

The camera is a Canon 20D. I shot these on a tripod using a trigger and aperture priority. If there were hard shadows in the image, I'd handhold a flash and use it while the shutter is open. Lighting in this hangar was pretty even (though the main display building takes cues from the bat caves of the USAF Museum!).

Enjoy the Day! Mark

Stargazer · 3 December 2009

Brilliant... Thank you SOOOOO MUCH !!!

Curtiss XP-55 Ascender canard fighter (Model CW-24)

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