Guy E. Franklin
Montgomery, AL | The XF-88 was designed to fill a USAF requirement for a "Penetration Fighter", a new class of aircraft for long-range escort of USAF bombers. Two XF-88s were ordered (S/N 46-525, 526) in 1946 and the first flight was on 29 October 1948. The XF-88 was underpowered and the second aircraft was modified to the XF-88A by adding afterburning engines which increased its maximum speed to approximately 700 mph. The XF-88A design was used as the basis for the F-101 "Voodoo".
The original XF-88 was modified to XF-88B with the addition of afterburning turbojets and an Allison XT-38A turboprop. The turboprop engine was added to test the feasibility of extending the cruising range of a fighter aircraft. This arrangement, like the XF-81, proved impractical and was never adopted for production.
TYPE
XF-88
XF-88A
XF-88B Number built/Converted
2
1 (cv)
1 (cv) Remarks
Penetration Ftr.
Mod. XF-88
Turboprop mod.
SPECIFICATIONS (XF-88)
Span: 39 ft. 8 in.
Length: 54 ft. 2 in.
Height: 17 ft. 3 in.
Weight: 18,500 lbs. loaded
Engines: Two Westinghouse J34-WE-13 turbojets of 3,000 lbs. thrust each
Armament: Designed for six 20mm cannons
Crew: One
07/28/2005 @ 15:11 [ref: 10871] |
