Curtiss XA-43

The Curtiss XA-43 was a design for a twin-engined attack aircraft proposed in 1945 as the Model 29. Curtiss had originally begun work on a twin-engined jet to satisfy an Air Force requirement for an all-weather jet fighter, but in March 1945 the Curtiss design was rejected because of a lack of suitably powerful engines.

Despite this rejection Curtiss were given funding to continue development of this aircraft as the XA-43 attack aircraft, this time as a twin-engined jet powered ground attack aircraft.

Work on this project ended on 21 November 1945, when the Air Force ordered Curtiss to use the funds to develop the XP-87 Blackhawk. This was to be an all-weather jet fighter powered by four Westinghouse engines carried in two pods. This final design was eventually produced, by then as the XF-87 Blackhawk, making its first flight on 1 March 1948. Curtiss even received a production order, but problems with the design were never overcome, and the orders were cancelled on 18 October 1948.

Suggested Reading
Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947, Peter M Bowers (Amazon.co.uk)
Curtiss Aircraft, 1907-1947, Peter M Bowers (Amazon.com)

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