In March 1945, U.S.A.A.F. issued requirement for the first jet-powered attack aircraft. Curtiss submitted the Model 29 and was awarded contract for two prototypes, designated XA-43. In November 1945, before the prototype was started, Curtiss also proposed the same model to the U.S.A.A.F.'s all-weather night fighter competition as a replacement for the P-61 Black Widow. The U.S.A.A.F. accepted the proposal and re-designated the project as XP-87, in competition with the Northrop XP-89 Scorpion. The first prototype was rolled out in August 1947. After a year of ground tests, the first flight was made. The project was again re-designated (for a new Fighter designation system) as XF-87. The XF-87 was judged as satisfactory but the top speed was slower than expected. In the fall of 1948, the USAF announced the F-89 as the winner of the contest. They cancelled the second XF-87 prototype and the production orders. The XF-87 was Curtiss' first pure jet aircraft, and also the company’s last produced aircraft before Curtiss was sold to North American Aviation.

Type:

Purpose:

Span:

Length:

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All-weather & night interceptor

Entry to the USAAF jet-powered attack  and also the night fighter competition

60ft.

62ft.10in.

20ft.

4x Westinghouse XJ34-WE-7 turbojet

600 mph

2

4x 20mm cannon (planned nose turret)

The Curtiss XF-87 Blackhawk is suitable to group with the following collection series.

Post war U.S.A.F. fighter 1946 ~ 1962

Republic F-84 Thunderjet

McDonnell XF-85 Goblin

North American F-86 Sabre

Curtiss XF-87 Blackhawk

McDonnell XF-88 Voodoo

Northrop F-89 Scorpion

Lockheed XF-90

Republic XF-91 Thunderceptor

Convair XF-92A

North American YF-93A (F-86C)

Lockheed F-94A Starfire

North American YF-95A (F-86D)

Republic YF-96A (F-84F) Thunderflash

Lockheed YF-97A (F-94C)

Hughes XF-98 Falcon (AIM-4)

Lockheed XF-99 Bomarc

North American F-100A Super Sabre

McDonnell F-101A Voodoo

Convair F-102 Delta Dagger

Republic XF-103 Thunderwarrior

Lockheed F-104A Starfighter

Republic F-105B Thunderchief

Republic XF-106 (XF-84H) / Convair F-106 Delta Dart

North American YF-107A Ultra Sabre

North American XF-108 Rapier

Bell XF-109

McDonnell F-110A (F-4C) Spectre

General Dynamics F-111A

U.S.A.A.F. attack aircraft in World War II 1937 ~ 1945

Douglas Y1A-18 Shrike II

Vultee YA-19

Douglas A-20 (P-70) Havoc

Stearman XA-21

Martin A-22 Maryland

Martin A-23

Douglas A-24 (SBD) Dauntless

Curtiss A-25 (SB2C-1A) Helldiver

Douglas A-26 Invader

North American A-27 (AT-6)

Lockheed A-28 Hudson

Lockheed A-29 (A-28B) Hudson

Martin A-30 Baltimore

Vultee A-31 Vengeance

Brewster XA-32

Northrop A-33 Nomad

Brewster A-34 (SB2A) Buccaneer

Vultee A-35 Vengeance

North American A-36 (P-51A) Invader

Hughes XA-37 (XP-73 / XF-11)

Beech XA-38 Grizzly

Kaiser-Fleetings XA-39

Curtiss A-40 (SB3C)

Convair XA-41

Douglas XA-42 (XB-42) Mixmaster

Curtiss XA-43 (XF-87) Blackhawk

Convair XA-44 (XB-53)

Martin XA-45 (XB-51)

Post war U.S. experimental aircraft