North American P-64
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| P-64 (NA-68) | |
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| Type | Fighter |
| Manufacturer | North American Aviation |
| Maiden flight | 1 September 1940 |
| Introduced | 1940 |
| Retired | Peru (1950) |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Force Peru |
| Number built | 13 |
The designator North American P-64 was assigned by the U.S. Army Air Corps to six North American model NA-68 aircraft seized by the US government that were destined for Thailand when that country was invaded by Japanese forces in World War II.
The North American NA-68 was a development by the North American Aviation Company of a simple single seat, low-wing, single engine fighter for export. The design was developed from the model NA-16 experimental basic training aircraft of 1935. The NA-16 evolved into a series of aircraft that were some of the most successful advanced and basic training aircraft produced by any country and was the basic design for single engine fighters for small countries that needed simple aircraft with modern features.
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[edit] Design and development
The NA-50A, built for Peru, was a single-seat fighter design based on the two-seat NA-26 that, for the first time, incorporated retractable landing gear. The NA-50A was powered by a Wright R-1820-77, 870 hp (650 kW) radial air-cooled engine and was armed with two .30 cal Colt-Browning machine guns.
[edit] Operational history
Peru purchased seven aircraft for the Peruvian Air Force, with deliveries completed in May 1939. In Peruvian service these aircraft were fitted with bomb racks under the fuselage for light bombs. The Peruvian NA-50s took part in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian war of July 1941, supporting Army of Peru ground forces.[1]
In 1940, the Royal Thai Air Force ordered six aircraft similar to the NA-50A that were designated NA-68. The changes in the NA-68 included a modified landing gear, heavier armament, and redesigned tail surfaces similar to that adopted in later production advanced trainers. These aircraft were en route to Thailand when seized and returned to the United States where they were disarmed, assigned the P-64 designator and used for advanced fighter training.
Another single seat fighter that evolved from the basic NA-16 trainer design is the Australian Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation CA-12 Boomerang fighter.
The only P-64 survivor is one of the six Thai-bound P-64s, that was used for training and liaison, and is now on display in the Eagle Hangar of the EAA AirVenture Museum. One original NA-50 stills survives in Peru where it is displayed next to the Mausoleum of Captain José Quiñones.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (NA-68 (P-64))
General characteristics
- Crew: One
- Length: 27 ft (8.23 m)
- Wingspan: 37 ft 3 in (11.35 m)
- Height: 19 ft 8 in (5.99 m)
- Wing area: 227 ft² (21.1 m²)
- Empty weight: 4,660 lb (2,114 kg)
- Loaded weight: 5,990 lb (2,717 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 6,800 lb (3,080 kg)
- Powerplant: 1× Wright R-1820-77 radial engine, 870 hp (649 kW)
Performance
- Maximum speed: 270 mph (435 km/h) at 8,700 ft (2,650 m)
- Range: 965 mi (1,550 km)
- Service ceiling 27,500 ft (8,400 m)
- Wing loading: 26 lb/ft² (129 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (0.21 kW/kg)
Armament
- 2x .30 caliber (7.62 mm) machine guns
- 2x 20 mm cannons
- Up to 400 lb (180 kg) of bombs
[edit] See also
Comparable aircraft CAC Boomerang
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
[edit] Bibliography
- Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters (Vol 4). London: MacDonald, 1961.
[edit] External links
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