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 |
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Categories: U.S. fighter aircraft 1940-1949