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P-75 Eagle
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Photo:
Robert Deering 10/18/2012 National Museum of the USAF Wright-Paterson AFB (FFO) Dayton, Ohio |
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The Fisher P-75 Eagle was
intended to fill the Army Air Forces' 1942 need for an
interceptor. Its unique design featured two coaxial
contra-rotating propellers connected by dual drive
shafts running under the cockpit to a 24-cylinder,
liquid-cooled engine located amidships. The original
concept called for use of proven airframe components
such as
P-40 wing panels, A-24
tail, and F4U landing gear--to reduce the design and
testing period. The first of two XP-75s using component parts made its initial flight on Nov. 17, 1943. Flight tests revealed unsatisfactory performance. This, combined with a mission change from interceptor to long-range escort, caused major changes in the original design. Ultimately, the idea of using proven airframe components had to be abandoned. The AAF ordered six XP-75s of the revised configuration along with 2,500 P-75As. The improved version was still unsatisfactory and after three Eagles had crashed, the entire program was canceled on Nov. 8, 1944. Only eight XP-75s and six P-75As were built. |
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