{"product_id":"xp-67-moonbat-engineering-reports-test-data-program-history-collection","title":"XP-67 Moonbat — Engineering Reports, Test Data \u0026 Program History Collection","description":"\u003ch3\u003eXP-67 Moonbat — Engineering Reports, Test Data \u0026amp; Program History Collection\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThe \u003cstrong\u003eXP-67 \"Moonbat\"\u003c\/strong\u003e was one of the most aerodynamically radical experimental interceptors of World War II — a twin-engine, long-range fighter designed by the \u003cstrong\u003eMcDonnell Aircraft Corporation\u003c\/strong\u003e at Lambert-St. Louis Municipal Airport under Army Air Forces contract. Its blended-wing-body configuration, true airfoil fuselage cross-sections, and laminar-flow wing surfaces placed it decades ahead of its time. The programme was ultimately cancelled in late 1944 after persistent Continental XI-1430 powerplant failures and the total destruction of the sole flying prototype in a ground fire on 6 September 1944.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThis archival collection assembles nine primary declassified documents from the Army Air Forces Materiel Command and the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, spanning the full programme lifecycle from the 1941 ducted radiator engineering studies through the 1946 classified case history compiled by the Historical Division Intelligence T-2 at Wright Field.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e1. Airframe \u0026amp; Aerodynamic Configuration\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTrue Airfoil Profile:\u003c\/strong\u003e Fuselage and engine nacelles utilised cross-sections shaped as true NACA airfoils — minimising interference drag across the entire wetted surface\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBlended-Wing Body:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wing, centre section, and nacelles merged into a unified organic body — a configuration not seen again until the B-2 Spirit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eLaminar-Flow Wings:\u003c\/strong\u003e Smooth skin tolerances critical to maintaining laminar-flow characteristics at high speed\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTesting Collaborators:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wind tunnel studies conducted by the McDonnell Aircraft Corporation, NACA, and the University of Detroit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e2. Powerplant — Continental XI-1430\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEngine Type:\u003c\/strong\u003e 2× Continental XI-1430-17 and XI-1430-19 — liquid-cooled, 12-cylinder inverted-vee\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOutput:\u003c\/strong\u003e 1,350 hp each — leaving the heavy airframe chronically underpowered\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eOverheating:\u003c\/strong\u003e Aluminium skin sculpted tightly around nacelles choked critical cooling airflow\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eExhaust Thrust:\u003c\/strong\u003e Unique exhaust configuration designed to generate supplemental thrust\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eTurbocharger Failures:\u003c\/strong\u003e General Electric turbochargers routinely failed to deliver expected high-altitude performance\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e3. Handling \u0026amp; Stability\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eControllability:\u003c\/strong\u003e Counter-rotating Curtiss Electric propellers minimised engine torque during takeoff\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAerodynamic Instability:\u003c\/strong\u003e Airflow separation around blended tail and wing junctions — documented in flight test reports\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eStall Characteristics:\u003c\/strong\u003e Heavy, underpowered weight caused unfavourable stall behaviour\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eUndercarriage:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wide-track tricycle gear with oversized tyres for rough-field deployment\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e4. Performance Data\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eMetric\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePredicted\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eActual Flight Test\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTop Speed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e472 mph (760 km\/h)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e405 mph (650 km\/h) at 25,000 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eCruising Speed\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e310 mph (500 km\/h)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e270 mph (435 km\/h)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eRate of Climb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e3,200 ft\/min\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2,600 ft\/min\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eService Ceiling\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e40,000 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e37,999 ft\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaximum Range\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2,500 miles\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e2,384 miles\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGross Weight\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e20,000 lb\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e22,114 lb (max 25,400 lb)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003e5. Engineering Modifications \u0026amp; Proposed Variants\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eDihedral Modification:\u003c\/strong\u003e Wing dihedral increased from 5° to 7° to combat rolling instability\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eNacelle Redesign:\u003c\/strong\u003e Ducts widened and rear nacelles cut back in early 1944 to expose hot exhaust\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePropeller Cuffs:\u003c\/strong\u003e Added to force more cooling air into engine inlets\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXP-67E Variant:\u003c\/strong\u003e Proposed unarmed photo-reconnaissance variant with mixed piston and GE I-20 turbojet propulsion — never built\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eArmament:\u003c\/strong\u003e Designed for six 37mm M4 cannons — no guns were ever fitted to the prototype\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3\u003eDocument Manifest\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMemorandum Report OJR\/mac\/47\u003c\/strong\u003e — XP-67 Airplane, AAF No. 42-11677: Pilots' Comments, Section Flight, Serial No. Eng-47-1755-A — Army Air Forces Materiel Command, 19 May 1944 — Declassified\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eAAF Technical Report 5412\u003c\/strong\u003e — Final Report on the XP-67 Airplane: Army Air Forces Air Materiel Command, Wright Field, Dayton, Ohio — Restricted \/ Declassified\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eEngineering Report No. 43\u003c\/strong\u003e — Experimental and Theoretical Analysis of Ducted Radiators, Item 1.e, Contract 41-1685 W 935 ac 15840: Lambert-St. Louis Municipal Airport, June 30, 1941\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReport No. 176, Serial 5\u003c\/strong\u003e — Study of Modifications to XP-67 Cooling System: Lambert-St. Louis Municipal Airport, September 1943 — Confidential \/ Declassified\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXP-67 Wind Tunnel Report\u003c\/strong\u003e — Army Air Forces Air Materiel Command\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXP-67 Vibration Report\u003c\/strong\u003e — Army Air Forces Materiel Command\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXP-67 Modification Reports (MRs)\u003c\/strong\u003e — Army Air Forces Materiel Command\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eXP-67 Squawk Sheet — Form E\u003c\/strong\u003e: MAC 203 (6-14-43), 7 January 1944 — 25-item inspection defect log covering turbocharger failures, structural damage, wiring burns, and bulkhead damage — Enclosure C, M.A.C. Ltr. 200-1033-kbg, dated 19 January 1944\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eCase History of XP-67 Airplane\u003c\/strong\u003e: Compiled by Historical Division Intelligence T-2, Air Materiel Command, Wright Field, July 1946 — Originally Secret — Declassified per Executive Order 10501, Authority NND 760052, V-2095-1\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e⚠️ \u003cstrong\u003eRegulatory Notice:\u003c\/strong\u003e Under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13 and EASA Part-M, any mechanic performing maintenance on an active aircraft must use current, manufacturer-approved revision-controlled data. This archival document does not satisfy that requirement.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cem\u003eThis is an archival, static-copy edition fixed at its original publication date. Intended for historical reference, flight simulation, museum restoration, and educational use only. Not approved for active airworthiness maintenance under FAA 14 CFR § 43.13, EASA Part-M, or equivalent international regulations. Operators of active aircraft must use current, revision-controlled publications from the Type Certificate holder or an authorised distributor.\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLiving Collections with Free Lifetime Updates — Please review our Legal Notice and Export Notice before purchasing.\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Online Aviation Library","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":53705714827611,"sku":null,"price":34.85,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0955\/4788\/3867\/files\/xp-67-banner-4-head-on-ground.png?v=1785682402","url":"https:\/\/onlineaviationlibrary.com\/products\/xp-67-moonbat-engineering-reports-test-data-program-history-collection","provider":"Online Aviation Library","version":"1.0","type":"link"}