Lockheed XFM-2

Lockheed XFM-2
Role Heavy fighter/bomber destroyer
Manufacturer Lockheed Corporation
First flight n/a
Status Cancelled in 1936
Primary user United States Army Air Corps
Number built 0


The Lockheed XPB-3, later designated XFM-2, (PB - Pursuit, Biplace / FM - Fighter, Multi-seat), was a proposed American heavy fighter aircraft, developed by the Lockheed Corporation during the mid-1930s. Intended as a heavy fighter and bomber destroyer for operation by the United States Army Air Corps, it failed to win a contract for construction of a prototype, the Bell YFM-1 Airacuda being preferred.

Design and development

Given the Lockheed designation Model 11,[1] the XFM-2 was developed in response to a United States Army Air Corps requirement for a heavy, twin-engined "bomber destroyer". Originally designated XPB-3 in the 'pursuit, biplace' category, it was redesignated 'XFM-2', for 'fighter, multiplace' early in development. Intended to be powered by two Allison V-1710 supercharged engines, the aircraft was designed for an armament of two 37mm cannon, one mounted in a nose turret and the other in a dorsal turret behind the cockpit.[2]

The XFM-2 featured a tricycle landing gear configuration, and was a mid-wing monoplane of nearly medium bomber size. The empennage featured a twin-tail arrangement.[3] Although the XFM-2 design was evaluated favorably by the Air Corps, the Bell YFM-1 Airacuda was selected to fill the bomber destroyer requirement, and further work on the XFM-2 was abandoned.[4]

See also

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
Related lists

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lockheed aircraft.

Citations

  1. Badrocke and Gunston 2001, p.7.
  2. Matthews, Birch. Cobra! Bell Aircraft Corporation 1934-1946. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer 1996. ISBN 978-0887409110.
  3. Airpower. March 1989. Vol. 19, no. 2, p.16.
  4. Francillon 1987, p.161.

Bibliography

  • Badrocke, Mike; Bill Gunston (2001). Lockheed Aircraft Cutaways: The History of Lockheed Martin. New York: Barns & Noble Books. ISBN 0-7607-2573-X. 
  • Francillon, Rene (1987). Lockheed Aircraft since 1913. Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press. ISBN 978-0870218972. 
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 3/7/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.