The 1932 XP-934 is based on the Curtiss XP-31 Swift, the airplane maker’s first monoplane fighter
The 1932 Curtiss XP-934 was a bold but failed experiment in aircraft design. Despite its problems, the plane’s engineering helped pave the way for future fighter designs. (Photo from the Paul S. Maynard archive)
The Curtiss XP-934 Swift was a bold but failed experiment in World War II aircraft design. Built in 1932, the XP-934 is based on the Curtiss XP-31 Swift, the airplane maker’s first monoplane fighter.
In 1932, the world is still reeling from the Great Depression, but aviation is booming. New aircraft designs are always emerging, and the Army Air Corps is eager to stay ahead of the curve. To seek innovation in aircraft design and manufacturing, the United States Army Air Corps held several competitions in the 1930s to develop new aircraft for the service. In addition to the competitions, the Army Air Corps also worked directly with aircraft manufacturers to develop new aircraft.
The newly formed Curtiss-Wright Corp. was among the makers to join the competition in 1932. The mission was to create an experimental pursuit-attack aircraft.
Pursuit aircraft became vital for their nimbleness for such duty missions as dive-bombing troops on the ground, escorting bombers to their targets in enemy territory, taking reconnaissance imagery, and clearing the airspace of opposing aircraft.
The Curtiss-Wright entry, designated XP-934 by the Army, is the first enclosed cockpit fighter aircraft for the USAAC. It was also one of the last pursuit aircraft with fixed landing gear and externally braced wings.
Why the XP-934 Failed
For the USAAC competition, Curtiss proposed a radical design that featured a low-wing monoplane configuration with a retractable landing gear. The XP-934 was powered by a 700-horsepower Wright XR-1510 Cyclone radial engine, giving the plane a top speed of more than 200 mph.
After the first flight of the Curtiss XP-934 on July 25, 1932, however, it was immediately apparent that the aircraft was underpowered and overweight. The single-seat fighter carried 125 gallons of fuel, weighing around 850 pounds, and four .30 caliber machine guns and ammunition. The retractable landing gear also proved to be problematic, and it was eventually removed.
The Curtiss XP-934 is never ordered into production. Despite its problems, however, the XP-934 was a significant aircraft in aviation history. It was the first enclosed cockpit fighter aircraft for the USAAC, and it helped to pave the way for future fighter designs.
Curtiss XP-934 Specifications
Crew: 1
Length: 23 feet 9 inches
Wingspan: 35 feet 3 inches
Height: 8 feet 10 inches
Wing area: 226 square feet
Empty weight: 3,334 pounds
Gross weight: 4,143 pounds
Powerplant: 1 700 hp Wright XR-1510 Cyclone 9-cylinder radial engine
Performance
Maximum speed: 215 mph
Initial climb rate: 2,130 feet per minute
Service ceiling: 22,700 feet
Range: 396 miles
Armament
4 .30 caliber machine guns
Source: Wikipedia
Note: This is another image from my dad, Paul Smith Maynard, who worked four decades in aviation as an engineer. Dad began his career in about 1943 after graduating from West Virginia University. He started with Curtiss-Wright Corp., a pioneer in making flying machines. He went on to work at North American Aviation and Rockwell International.
See more of his vintage plane pics here.
