View source for Curtiss XP-42

{{Short description|American Experimental Fighter Aircraft}}
{{refimprove|date=December 2019}}
<!-- This article is a part of [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft]]. Please see [[Wikipedia:WikiProject Aircraft/page content]] for recommended layout. -->
{{Infobox aircraft
 | name=XP-42
 | image=Curtiss_XP-42_in_flight_1945.jpg
 | caption=Curtiss XP-42 in its final configuration, 1945
 | type=Engine cooling research
 | national_origin=United States
 | manufacturer=[[Curtiss-Wright Corporation|Curtiss-Wright]]
 | designer=
 | first_flight=March 1939
 | introduction=
 | retired=
 | status=
 | primary_user=
 | more_users= <!--Limited to three in total; separate using <br /> -->
 | produced= <!--years in production-->
 | number_built=1
 | program cost= <!--Total program cost-->
 | unit cost= <!--Incremental or flyaway cost for military or retail price for commercial aircraft-->
 | developed_from= [[Curtiss P-36]]
 | variants=
}}

The '''Curtiss XP-42''' was an experimental fighter built by [[Curtiss Aircraft]] in the late 1930s to research engine cooling and improving the performance of the [[Curtiss P-36 Hawk]].

==Design and development==
The fourth production P-36 (serial 38-004) became a development platform for a direct successor, designated XP-42 by the USAAC. The XP-42 was powered by a [[Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp|Pratt & Whitney R-1830 "Twin Wasp"]] engine fitted with a longer, streamlined cowling and a large propeller spinner. These features attempted to improve the aerodynamics of the air-cooled [[radial engine]].
[[File:Curtiss XP-42 061019-F-1234P-033.jpg|thumb|left|Curtiss XP-42 in its initial configuration, 1939]]
When the XP-42 first flew in March 1939, it proved to be faster than the P-36. However, the P-40 was faster still and the new nose cowling caused engine cooling problems that proved to be unresolvable, despite at least 12 sets of modifications, which ultimately resulted in a shorter and less streamlined cowling closely resembling the original P-36 Hawk. The XP-42 project was canceled. However, the XP-42 prototype was retained as a test-bed and was later fitted with an all-moving tail ([[stabilator]]), for research purposes.{{when|date=August 2023}} This aircraft was scrapped on July 15, 1947.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Curtiss P-36A Mohawk |url=http://www.forgottenprops.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/p36_mohawk.html |access-date=2019-11-16 |website=Forgotten Props - A Warbirds Resource Group Site}}{{rs|date=August 2023}}</ref>

<!-- ==Operational history== -->
<!-- ==Variants== -->
<!-- ==Operators== -->

==Specifications (XP-42)==
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=Curtiss aircraft, 1907-1947<ref name="Bowers">{{cite book |last1=Bowers |first1=Peter M. |title=Curtiss aircraft, 1907-1947 |date=1979 |publisher=Putnam |location=London |isbn=978-0370100296 |page=365}}</ref>
|prime units?=imp
<!--
        General characteristics
-->
|genhide=

|crew=1
|capacity=
|length m=
|length ft=28
|length in=6
|length note=
|span m=
|span ft=37
|span in=3.5
|span note=
|upper span m=
|upper span ft=
|upper span in=
|upper span note=
|mid span m=
|mid span ft=
|mid span in=
|mid span note=
|lower span m=
|lower span ft=
|lower span in=
|lower span note=
|swept m=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept ft=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept in=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept note=
|dia m=<!-- airships etc -->
|dia ft=<!-- airships etc -->
|dia in=<!-- airships etc -->
|dia note=
|width m=<!-- if applicable -->
|width ft=<!-- if applicable -->
|width in=<!-- if applicable -->
|width note=
|height m=
|height ft=11
|height in=1
|height note=top of propeller disc
|wing area sqm=21.92
|wing area sqft=
|wing area note=
|swept area sqm=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept area sqft=<!-- swing-wings -->
|swept area note=
|volume m3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|volume ft3=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|volume note=
|aspect ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil='''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA]] 2215; '''tip:''' NACA 2209<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1=Lednicer |first1=David |title=The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url=https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website=m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date=16 April 2019}}</ref>
|empty weight kg=
|empty weight lb=4818
|empty weight note=
|gross weight kg=
|gross weight lb=5650
|gross weight note=
|max takeoff weight kg=
|max takeoff weight lb=6260
|max takeoff weight note=
|fuel capacity=
|lift kg=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift lb=<!-- lighter-than-air -->
|lift note=
|more general=
<!--
        Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=[[Pratt & Whitney R-1830-31]] 
|eng1 type=14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engine
|eng1 kw=<!-- prop engines -->
|eng1 hp=1050

|prop blade number=3
|prop name=constant-speed propeller
|prop dia m=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia ft=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia in=<!-- propeller aircraft -->
|prop dia note=

|rot number=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot dia m=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot dia ft=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot dia in=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot area sqm=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot area sqft=<!-- helicopters -->
|rot area note=
<!--
        Performance
-->
|perfhide=

|max speed kmh=
|max speed mph=315
|max speed kts=
|max speed note=at {{cvt|15000|ft}}
|max speed mach=<!-- supersonic aircraft -->
|cruise speed kmh=
|cruise speed mph=270
|cruise speed kts=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed kmh=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed kts=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed kts=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed kts=
|minimum control speed note=
|range km=
|range miles=730
|range nmi=
|range note=
|combat range km=
|combat range miles=
|combat range nmi=
|combat range note=
|ferry range km=
|ferry range miles=
|ferry range nmi=
|ferry range note=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m=
|ceiling ft=
|ceiling note=
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|glide ratio=<!-- sailplanes -->
|climb rate ms=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude=
|sink rate ms=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate ftmin=<!-- sailplanes -->
|sink rate note=
|lift to drag=
|wing loading kg/m2=
|wing loading lb/sqft=
|wing loading note=
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass=
|more performance=
<!--
        Armament
-->
|guns= provision for 1 × {{cvt|0.30|in}} [[M1919 Browning machine gun]] and 1 × {{cvt|0.50|in}} [[M2 Browning machine gun]], but not fitted
}}

==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
* [[Curtiss P-36 Hawk]]
* [[Curtiss YP-37]]
* [[Curtiss P-40 Warhawk]]
* [[Curtiss XP-46]]
* [[Curtiss P-60]]
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
|see also=
}}

==References==
{{reflist}}
<!-- ==Further reading== -->
<!-- ==External links== -->

{{P-40 Warhawk family}}
{{Curtiss aircraft}}
{{USAF fighters}}

[[Category:Curtiss aircraft|XP-42]]
[[Category:1930s United States fighter aircraft|Curtiss XP-42]]
[[Category:Single-engined tractor aircraft]]
[[Category:Low-wing aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1939]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear]]
[[Category:Single-engined piston aircraft]]