Curtiss Wright XP-55 Ascender

 

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Curtiss Wright XP-55 Ascender

Item#: MPCWXP55A

MSRP Price: $299.95

Factory Direct Price: $199.95




Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright

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Curtiss Wright XP-55 Ascender

The SB2U was this company's first low-wing monoplane and, like the earlier SBU, was a scout/bomber. Night-flying and deck-landing arrester gear were provided. Power for the initial production version was a Pratt & Whitney R-1535-96 radial engine. The generally similar SB2U-2 version was followed by the SB2U-3, which also formed the basis for the V-156 export model; some of these were delivered to France and the remainder of the order to Britain as the Chesapeake. Unfortunately the Vindicator was not as successful as Vought's earlier biplanes and was soon relegated to a training role.

In 1934, the United States Navy issued a requirement for a new Scout Bomber for carrier use, and received proposals from six manufacturers. The specification was issued in two parts, one for a monoplane, and one for a biplane. Vought submitted designs in both categories, which would become the XSB2U-1 and XSB3U-1 respectively. The biplane was considered alongside the monoplane design as a "hedge" against the U.S. Navy's reluctance to pursue the modern configuration.

The XSB2U-1 was of conventional low-wing tailwheel monoplane configuration, with the pilot and tail gunner seated in tandem under a long greenhouse-style canopy. Its only remarkable design feature was a propeller with reversible pitch, allowing it to be used to brake the aircraft during a dive bombing attack.

The SB2U was evaluated against the Brewster XSBA-1, Curtiss XSBC-3, Great Lakes XB2G-1, Grumman XSBF-1 and Northrop XBT-1. All but the Great Lakes and Grumman submissions were ordered into production. Designated XSB2U-1, one prototype was ordered on 15 October 1934 and was delivered on 15 April 1936. Used for operational evaluation, its successful completion of trials led to further orders.

Around 170 of all Vindicator variants were produced, and a single example is preserved at the National Museum of Naval Aviation at NAS Pensacola.

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