| XFH | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Role | fighter |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Hall Aluminum Company |
| Designer | Charles W. Hall |
| First flight | 1929[1] |
| Number built | 1 |
The Hall XFH was an American fighter aircraft built by Hall Aluminum Company. It was the first fighter with a semimonocoque metal fuselage.[1]
Development[]
The XFH was designed in 1927 by Charles Hall. It was a single-bay biplane with N-struts for the fabric-covered wings. Its fuselage was made of steel tubing covered in a watertight aluminum skin, enabling it to float if ditched in the ocean. Also for ditching on water or on land, the landing gear could be jettisoned. Power was provided by a Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine. Testing in June 1929 showed poor handling characteristics and performance. During one test flight, the upper wing came off the plane. After repairs, the XFH made test flights from an aircraft carrier. Designated XFH by the Bureau of Aeronautics, it was purchased not for active service, but to study new metal construction techniques.[1]
Specifications[]
Data from Angelucci, 1987. pp. 256-257.[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: 1
- Length: 22 ft 6 in (6.85 m)
- Wingspan: 32 ft 0 in (9.75 m)
- Height: 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
- Wing area: 255 ft2 (23.68 m2)
- Empty weight: 1,773 lb (804 kg)
- Gross weight: 2,514 lb (1,140 kg)
- Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney Wasp, 450 hp (336 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 153 mph (246 km/h)
- Range: 275 miles (443 km)
- Service ceiling: 25,300 ft (7,711 m)
- Rate of climb: 1786 ft/min (9.07 m/s)
Armament
References[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Hall aircraft. |
- Notes
- Bibliography
- Angelucci, Enzo (1987). The American Fighter from 1917 to the present. New York: Orion Books.
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The original article can be found at Hall XFH and the edit history here.