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NA-50, NA-68/P-64
North American P-64 061024-F-1234P-027
Role Fighter
Manufacturer North American Aviation
First flight May 1939 (NA-50)[1]
1 September 1940 (NA-68)[2]
Retired 1950 (Peru)
Primary users Peru
United States Army Air Forces
Number built 13
Developed from North American NA-16

P-64 was the designation assigned by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) to the North American Aviation NA-68 fighter, an upgraded variant of the NA-50 developed during the late 1930s. Seven NA-50s were purchased by the Peruvian Air Force, which nicknamed it Torito ("Little Bull").

Six NA-68s ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force were seized before export by the US government in 1941, after the Franco-Thai War and growing ties between Thailand and the Empire of Japan. These aircraft were used by the USAAC as unarmed fighter trainers.

The Peruvian NA-50s subsequently saw action during the Ecuadorian-Peruvian War of 1941.

Design and development[]

The North American NA-50 was developed by the North American Aviation as a simple single seat, low-wing, single engine fighter for export. The design was developed from the NA-16/BT-9 basic training aircraft of 1935. The NA-16 evolved into a series of aircraft that were some of the most widely used advanced and basic training aircraft produced by any country and provided the basic design for a single engine fighter intended for small countries that needed a simple aircraft with modern capabilities and features.

The NA-50 Torito (Spanish slang for "little bull"), built for Peru, was a single-seat fighter design based on the two-seat Basic Combat Demonstrator NA-44. The NA-50 was powered by an 870 hp (650 kW) Wright R-1820-77 radial air-cooled engine and was armed with two .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns. The aircraft were manufactured in May 1939, and test flown at the factory.[1]

In 1940, the Royal Thai Air Force ordered six aircraft similar to the NA-50 that were designated NA-68. The changes in the NA-68 included a modified landing gear, new outer wings, heavier armament, and redesigned tail surfaces similar to those adopted on later production trainers. North American Test pilot Lewis Waite flew the first NA-68 on 1 September 1940.[2]

Operational history[]

USAAC P-64

USAAC P-64

Peru purchased seven aircraft for the Peruvian Air Force, with deliveries completed in May 1939. In Peruvian service, these aircraft were fitted with bomb racks under the fuselage for light bombs. The Peruvian NA-50s took part in the Ecuadorian-Peruvian war of July 1941, supporting Army of Peru ground forces.[3] In 1940, the NA-68s (along with a parallel order for NA-69 two seaters) ordered by the Royal Thai Air Force were en route to Thailand when their export clearance was cancelled and were returned to the United States where they were assigned the designation P-64, disarmed and used for advanced fighter training.

Operators[]

Flag of Peru Peru
United States

Survivors[]

  • NA-50 XXI-41-3 (c/n 50-950). One of the original seven NA-50s built is displayed on a pedestal in front of the Museo Aeronáutico del Perú at Las Palmas Air Base, Lima, Peru, and next to the Mausoleum of Captain José Quiñones Gonzáles, (a Peruvian national hero who died while flying an NA-50). This example was initially assigned to Escuadrón de Aviación No.1 (Chiclayo Field) and was later transferred to the 28th Advanced Fighter Training Group, 4th squadron until retired in 1967.[4]
  • NA-50 replica 82653 (N510TQ) North American SNJ-4 reworked into a NA-50, owned by Skylanes Unlimited Inc.[5]
  • NA-50 replica 05 (N250NA) from Skylanes Unlimited Inc.[6]
  • NA-50 replica 42-20470 (N202LD) was built from a Canadian Harvard IV in 1952 and is currently airworthy.[7]
  • NA-50 replica 42-7549 (NX80714) replica. A modified AT-6 Texan with a Pratt Whitney 1340 SIHIG, also features clipped wings, a new razor back and tail configuration and all-aluminum control surfaces. The aircraft is fully restored and airworthy and owned by a private party.[8]
  • NA-68A 41-19085 (c/n 68-3061). One of the six intercepted Thai-bound P-64s survives and after being used for training and liaison, is now on display at the EAA AirVenture Museum.
  • NA-68 replica SA-30(F-AZHD/7/11F2), owned by Jacques Bastet, France.[9]

Specifications (NA-68/P-64)[]

Data from[citation needed]

General characteristics

  • Crew: One
  • Length: 27 ft (8.23 m)
  • Wingspan: 37 ft 3 in (11.35 m)
  • Height: 19 ft 8 in (5.99 m)
  • Wing area: 227 ft² (21.1 m²)
  • Empty weight: 4,660 lb (2,114 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 5,990 lb (2,717 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 6,800 lb (3,080 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Wright R-1820-77 radial engine, 870 hp (649 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 270 mph (435 km/h) at 8,700 ft (2,650 m)
  • Range: 965 mi (1,550 km)
  • Service ceiling: 27,500 ft (8,400 m)
  • Wing loading: 26 lb/ft² (129 kg/m²)
  • Power/mass: 0.13 hp/lb (0.21 kW/kg)

Armament

  • 2 × .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns
  • 2 × 20 mm cannons
  • Up to 400 lb (180 kg) of bombs
  • See also[]

    References[]

    Notes[]

    1. 1.0 1.1 Green 1961, p. 134.
    2. 2.0 2.1 Gates, John and Tom Lymburn. "North American P-64/NA-50 – N840." AirVenture Museum. Retrieved: 6 January 2012.
    3. Cooper, Tom Cooper and Esteban Rivera."The Most Powerful Air Force in Latin America." Acig.org, 1 September 2003. Retrieved: 26 March 2010.
    4. Hanson, David. "NA-50A XXI-41-3 history." daveswarbirds.com. Retrieved: 26 March 2010.
    5. Ryabtsev, Serev. "NA-50." Russian AviaPhoto Team via Airliners.net. Retrieved: 17 September 2013.
    6. Shapiro, Dmitriy. "NA-50." Airliners.net. Retrieved: 17 September 2013.
    7. Von Gilder, Eric. "QB-39 North American NA-50 replica." vg-photo.com, 8 June 2009. Retrieved: 26 March 2010.
    8. "The Coffman Collection: North American AT-6G Texan/P64." The Coffman Collection. Retrieved: 17 September 2013.
    9. Campillo, Fabien. "P-64." Airliners.net. Retrieved: 17 September 2013.

    Bibliography[]

    • Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters (Vol 4). London: MacDonald, 1961.

    External links[]

    All or a portion of this article consists of text from Wikipedia, and is therefore Creative Commons Licensed under GFDL.
    The original article can be found at North American P-64 and the edit history here.
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