Lockheed XFV
Specs, top speed, range and facts
The Lockheed XFV is an experimental tail-sitter fighter built by Lockheed in the USA. It first flew in 1954, but it never entered regular service. A fighter that takes off and lands standing on its tail, so it could fly from small ships.
Photo: Lockheed XFV on Wikipedia (free licence)
- Top speed933 km/h (580 mph)
- Range800 km (497 miles)
- First flight1954
- Wingspan8.4 m (27 ft)
Lockheed XFV specs
| Top speed | 933 km/h (580 mph)What Lockheed hoped for with a more powerful engine that was never fitted. |
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| Range | 800 km (497 miles)Not published. This is a rough estimate. |
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| Length | 11.2 m (37 ft) |
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| Wingspan | 8.4 m (27 ft)Without the tip tanks; with them it is about 9.4 m across. |
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| Max takeoff weight | 7.35 t (16,204 lb)Loaded weight. |
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| Crew and capacity | 1 pilot |
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| Engines | 1 × Allison XT40 turboprop with two propellers spinning opposite ways |
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| First flight | 1954 |
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| Entered service | Never entered regular service |
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| Built by | Lockheed (USA) |
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Lockheed XFV facts
- Like its rival, the Convair XFY Pogo, it was designed to take off and land standing on its tail, but it only ever flew from a runway on temporary wheels.
- Its test pilot was Herman "Fish" Salmon, so people nicknamed it the Salmon.
Quick quiz
When did the Lockheed XFV first fly?
In 1954.
Who built the Lockheed XFV?
Lockheed, in the USA.
How fast can the Lockheed XFV fly?
Its top speed is 933 km/h (580 mph).
How far can the Lockheed XFV fly?
About 800 km (497 miles).
Photos, a true-scale silhouette, quizzes, flashcards, the Size Lab and the Sky Run game.
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