Curtiss XP-55 Ascender | World War Photos

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: XP-55 Ascender October 1943 color photo

: XP-55 42-78845 roll out for radio test July 10, 1943

: Curtiss XP-55 42-78847 on the ground

: XP-55 42-78845 St Louis, 26 June 1943

: Curtiss XP-55 42-78845 July 11, 1943

: Curtiss XP-55 42-78845 1943

: XP-55 Ascender 42-78845 first taxi tests July 11, 1943

: Curtiss XP-55 42-78845 engine run

: XP-55 42-78845 cockpit July 6, 1943

: 2nd Ascender 42-78846

: Curtiss XP-55 mock-up

: XP-55 Ascender nose

: XP-55 42-78847 assembly

: XP-55 Ascender 42-78845 1943

: XP-55 42-78847 Scott Filed July 1943

XP-55 Ascender (CW-24), was a 1940s United States prototype fighter aircraft built by Curtiss. Along with the XP-54 and XP-56, it resulted from USAAC proposal R-40C issued on 27 November 1939 calling for unconventional aircraft designs. A highly unusual design for its time, it had a canard configuration, a rear mounted engine, swept wings and two vertical tails. Like the XP-54, the Ascender was initially designed for the Pratt & Whitney X-1800 engine and had to be redesigned when that engine project was cancelled. It would also be the first Curtiss fighter aircraft to use tricycle landing gear.