Curtiss XF15C

1945

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Curtiss XF15C

US Navy interest in the mixed-power concept for shipboard fighters - aircraft employing a piston engine for cruise and an auxiliary turbojet to provide supplementary power for take-off, climb and maximum speed - which had resulted in orders for three prototypes of the Ryan XFR-1 and 100 production FR-1s, was taken a stage further on 7 April 1944 with the placing with Curtiss of a contract for three prototypes of the appreciably more powerful XF15C-1. This was to be powered by a 2,100hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W 18-cylinder tworow radial and a 1226kgp Allis-Chalmers J36 (Halford H-1B) turbojet. Armament was to comprise four wing-mounted 20mm cannon. The first XF15C-1 was flown on 27 February 1945, without the turbojet installed, this being fitted by April, but the aircraft was lost on 8 May when it crashed during a landing approach. The second XF15C-1 flew on 9 July 1945, and was joined soon after by the third, both subsequently having their low-set horizontal tail surfaces replaced by a T-tail arrangement. The flight test programme continued until October 1946, by which time the US Navy had lost interest in the mixed power arrangement and cancelled further development.

3-View 
Curtiss XF15CA three-view drawing (1687 x 1143)

Specification 
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight7543 kg16630 lb
  Empty weight5737 kg12648 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan14.63 m48 ft 0 in
  Length13.41 m44 ft 0 in
  Height4.65 m15 ft 3 in
  Wing area37.16 m2399.99 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed695 km/h432 mph
  Range2228 km1384 miles

Comments
Joffrey Martinez, e-mail, 24.11.2023 20:54

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walt downs, e-mail, 13.01.2016 23:08

i'd like to get a 3 view drawing.. that I can model it in paper, as a card model. This is one rare aircraft![modeler for 60 years]

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Klaatu83, e-mail, 19.12.2012 19:30

This was Curtiss' proposal to meet the Navy's request for a mixed-power, carrier-based fighter. Unfortunately for Curtiss, Ryan's FR-1 "Fireball" was flying in June 1944, eight months earlier than the XF15C. As a result, the FR-1 was ordered into production and was just entering squadron service at the time WW-II ended, at which time the XF15C was still under test.

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paidui, 21.06.2011 06:28

Wright Hanger, in Buffalo, and helped me up into the cockpit. At that age the cockpit appeared to be pretty roomy.

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Claude P Laflamme, e-mail, 11.11.2010 04:16

XF15C-1 #3 is currently at the Quonset Air Museum in Rhode Island. Brad, I'm currently restoring this aircraft. I'm a big guy and the cockpit has plenty of room for me. I will email you at the above address. My email listed above is wrong. Please email me @ Claude@Firehousemail.com and I will send you photos of the cockpit and any other request you have.

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Louis Barrett, e-mail, 24.03.2023 Claude P Laflamme

The XF15C-1 #3 is now at the Hickory Aviation Museum in Hickory NC. Once our new museum is completed, it will have a home inside. The plan is to repaint her.
Thanks for your initial restoration.
She can be seen at:

www.hickoryaviationmuseum.org

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Brad Linscott, e-mail, 17.10.2010 19:29

My father, Austin B. Linscott, led a team to design the landing gear for this airplane. When I was 9 years old he took me into the Curtiss Wright Hanger, in Buffalo, and helped me up into the cockpit. At that age the cockpit appeared to be pretty roomy.

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Claude P. Laflamme, e-mail, 18.06.2010 01:14

I am currently restoring XF15C-1 #3 The plane is in very good condition.

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