Science Fair Project Encyclopedia
P-61 Black Widow
| P-61 Black Widow | ||
|---|---|---|
 Northrop P-61 | ||
| Description | ||
| Role | Night Fighter | |
| Crew | 3 | |
| Dimensions | ||
| Length | 49 ft 7 in | |
| Wingspan | 66 ft 0 in | |
| Height | 14 ft 8 in | |
| Wing area | ||
| Weights | ||
| Empty | ||
| Loaded | 35,855 lbs | |
| Maximum take-off | ||
| Powerplant | ||
| Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp | ||
| Power: 2000 hp each | ||
| Performance | ||
| Maximum speed | 425 mph | |
| Combat range | 1,200 miles | |
| Ferry range | ||
| Service ceiling | 46,200 ft | |
| Rate of climb | ||
| Armament | ||
| Guns | 4 20mm cannon in central section; 4 .50 machine guns in upper turret | |
| Bombs | 6,400 lbs | |
The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first American aircraft designed specifically as a radar-equipped night fighter. 700 were built, and they saw service in the Pacific from May 1944 onwards and over Europe from June. They were designed to carry the centimetric SCR-720 radar, but took over three years of development work to perfect.
Northrop also built a photo-reconnaissance version of the fighter called the F-15 Reporter.
| Related content | |
|---|---|
| Related Development | |
| Similar Aircraft | |
| Designation Series | |
| Related Lists | List of military aircraft of the United States - List of fighter aircraft |
10-26-2009 08:16:03
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details
The contents of this article is licensed from www.wikipedia.org under the GNU Free Documentation License. Click here to see the transparent copy and copyright details