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Description

First off, I have to say every aircraft design I do referring to the Destroyermen saga is derived, at least in part, from an initial drawing by the author, Taylor Anderson. Kudos to an inventive mind. I then bend, fold, spindle & mutilate the drawings to my own depraved ends.

This updated design study is a result of the surprising air power displayed by the advanced aircraft of the League of Tripoli. It was realized even the P-2B would not have sufficient performance to engage the Macchi Messerschmitt designs with confidence.

The P-2D “Lightning” study endeavors to extract more performance from the existing P-2 series, using current technology, with additional advances which do not require excessive resources or development time. The D & E models currently carry four .50 caliber M-2 machine guns with two in each wing outboard of the tail boom.   The primary structural differences are fully enclosed engine cowlings & retractable tricycle landing gear for less drag. The new design features:

    1.    In-line twin engine layout which provides for twice the horsepower with little increase in drag. Additional advantages are engine redundancy, the ability to shut one down to increase cruise range & no adverse yaw induced if one engine is disabled. The engines are equipped with the current manual inertial starting system.

    2.    Prototype mechanical variable pitch propeller system to increase performance in all flight regimes. The system also provides for feathering the propeller if an engine is disabled or shut down in flight.   Blades have been enlarged to take advantage of the uprated engines.

    3.    Pair of small engine driven air pumps feeding compressed air bottles providing regulated pressurized air to the pilot through a mask. This system allows operations above the usual physical restrictions imposed on the pilots due to lack of air pressure. Emergency O2 bottle supplied if system is inoperable to enable pilots to descend to a lower altitude.

    4.    Enlarged enclosed canopy for the cockpit to reduce drag & pilot discomfort at high altitudes & air speeds. Canopy also has rear view mirrors installed for projected air combat. The new enlarged canopy improves the view aft for combat purposes.

    5.    Prototype electrically operated retractable tricycle landing gear with castoring nose gear & emergency manual backup.

    6.    Tail hook detent to prevent the hook rising when engaged by the arresting wires & tangling in the aft propeller. (Reset by ground crew after carrier landing)

    7.    Water-methanol injection system for situations needing emergency power.

    8.    Fuel tanks installed in the tail booms to increase range.

    9.    Plywood construction to deal with increased airframe stresses.

    10. Pair of air/oil heat exchangers using engine oil heat to provide cockpit heat at altitude.

Retrofit kits with features 2, 3, 4, 7 & 10 can be supplied to front line units to upgrade current P-1Cs to D model performance levels & can be integrated into the STD-1 air frame also.

The E model, when superchargers become available, will feature all the above except item #3, and has additionally:

Prototype superchargers to maintain performance at high altitudes.
Prototype supercharger bleed air systems providing pressurized air to the pilot through a mask. This system allows operations above the usual physical restrictions imposed on the pilots due to lack of air pressure. Emergency O2 bottle supplied if system is inoperable to enable pilots to descend to a lower altitude.

Description

First off, I have to say every aircraft design I do referring to the Destroyermen saga is derived, at least in part, from an initial drawing by the author, Taylor Anderson. Kudos to an inventive mind. I then bend, fold, spindle & mutilate the drawings to my own depraved ends.

This updated design study is a result of the surprising air power displayed by the advanced aircraft of the League of Tripoli. It was realized even the P-2B would not have sufficient performance to engage the Macchi Messerschmitt designs with confidence.

The P-2D “Lightning” study endeavors to extract more performance from the existing P-2 series, using current technology, with additional advances which do not require excessive resources or development time. The D & E models currently carry four .50 caliber M-2 machine guns with two in each wing outboard of the tail boom.   The primary structural differences are fully enclosed engine cowlings & retractable tricycle landing gear for less drag. The new design features:

    1.    In-line twin engine layout which provides for twice the horsepower with little increase in drag. Additional advantages are engine redundancy, the ability to shut one down to increase cruise range & no adverse yaw induced if one engine is disabled. The engines are equipped with the current manual inertial starting system.

    2.    Prototype mechanical variable pitch propeller system to increase performance in all flight regimes. The system also provides for feathering the propeller if an engine is disabled or shut down in flight.   Blades have been enlarged to take advantage of the uprated engines.

    3.    Pair of small engine driven air pumps feeding compressed air bottles providing regulated pressurized air to the pilot through a mask. This system allows operations above the usual physical restrictions imposed on the pilots due to lack of air pressure. Emergency O2 bottle supplied if system is inoperable to enable pilots to descend to a lower altitude.

    4.    Enlarged enclosed canopy for the cockpit to reduce drag & pilot discomfort at high altitudes & air speeds. Canopy also has rear view mirrors installed for projected air combat. The new enlarged canopy improves the view aft for combat purposes.

    5.    Prototype electrically operated retractable tricycle landing gear with castoring nose gear & emergency manual backup.

    6.    Tail hook detent to prevent the hook rising when engaged by the arresting wires & tangling in the aft propeller. (Reset by ground crew after carrier landing)

    7.    Water-methanol injection system for situations needing emergency power.

    8.    Fuel tanks installed in the tail booms to increase range.

    9.    Plywood construction to deal with increased airframe stresses.

    10. Pair of air/oil heat exchangers using engine oil heat to provide cockpit heat at altitude.

Retrofit kits with features 2, 3, 4, 7 & 10 can be supplied to front line units to upgrade current P-1Cs to D model performance levels & can be integrated into the STD-1 air frame also.

The E model, when superchargers become available, will feature all the above except item #3, and has additionally:

Prototype superchargers to maintain performance at high altitudes.
Prototype supercharger bleed air systems providing pressurized air to the pilot through a mask. This system allows operations above the usual physical restrictions imposed on the pilots due to lack of air pressure. Emergency O2 bottle supplied if system is inoperable to enable pilots to descend to a lower altitude.