Fairchild XNQ

Infobox Aircraft
name=XNQ-1/T-31


caption=Fairchild XNQ-1 tested as the T-31
type=Primary trainer
manufacturer=Fairchild
designer=
first flight=24 March, 1949
introduced=
retired=
status=
produced=
number built=2
unit cost=
developed from=
variants with their own articles=The Fairchild XNQ (T-31) (Model M-92) was an American trainer designed as a standard primary trainer for the U.S. Air Force during the 1950s. If the Fairchild XNQ had gone into production in its T-31 guise, it would have been the first United States Navy-designed airplane used as a standard primary trainer for the U.S. Air Force.

Design and development

Before 1947, the Navy had always used slightly modified versions of Air Force aircraft. Designed by Fairchild Aircraft as a replacement for current primary trainers, the XNQ-1 was the fastest primary trainer to date. The Model M-92 featured a controllable pitch propeller, flaps, electronically operated retractable landing gear and all-metal skin with fabric-covered rudder, ailerons and elevators.

Its unobstructed, one-piece bubble canopy provided instructors and students seated in tandem with all-round visibility, and its cockpit instruments were arranged to match those found in a 600 mph jet fighter or a 5,000-mile, long-range patrol plane. To help students recognize the instruments, the landing gear handle was in the shape of a tiny landing gear wheel, and the flap handle was shaped like the airfoil of a flap.

Testing and Evaluation

The XNQ-1 basic/advanced trainer was developed for the U.S. Navy and was first flown by Richard Henson on 7 October 1946. Two prototypes were flown as XNQ-1 [75725/75726] . Delivered to the U.S. Navy in 1947, after trials flown by Commander Robert M. Soule, they were rejected. Tests had revealed problems with exhaust fumes leaking back into the cockpit. The first prototype was subsequently to receive a number of engine upgrades, first powered with 320 hp XR-680-13, then finally with an inline 350 hp Lycoming GSO-580. The aircraft was destroyed in a crash in 1950.

The second aircraft (BuNo. 75726) with a larger stabilizer was evaluated by the USAF in 1949 as a replacement for the AT-6, being selected on 24 March 1949 as a primary trainer. Designed as an acrobatic airplane to teach pilots basic maneuvers, such as stalls, spins, rolls and dive pullouts, Fairchild received a contract for 100 aircraft as the model 129, USAF designation T-31. However, the order was cancelled later in 1949, in favor of the Beech T-34 Mentor.

Fairchild dropped plans to develop the design as the company concentrated on other production contracts, including the Fairchild C-119. The second aircraft, privately owned, was still on the civil register on 15 January, 2006. ["Antique Attic". "Atlantic Flyer", June 2006.]

pecifications

aerospecs
met or eng?= met
crew=two, pilot and instructor
capacity=
length m=8.3
length ft=27
length in=3
span m=12.4
span ft=40
span in=8
dia m=
dia ft=
dia in=
height m=2.7
height ft=8
height in=10
wing area sqm=
wing area sqft=
rot area sqm=
rot area sqft=
aspect ratio=
empty weight kg=205
empty weight lb=452
gross weight kg=355
gross weight lb=783
eng1 number=1
eng1 type=Lycoming XR-680-13 radial
eng1 kw= 238
eng1 hp= 320
eng1 kn=
eng1 lbf=
eng1 kn-ab=
eng1 lbf-ab=
eng2 number=
eng2 type=
eng2 kw=
eng2 hp=
eng2 kn=
eng2 lbf=
eng2 kn-ab=
eng2 lbf-ab=
max speed kmh=282
max speed mph=175
max speed mach=
cruise speed kmh=
cruise speed mph=
range km=1,537
range miles=955
endurance h=
endurance min=
ceiling m=4,880
ceiling ft=16,000
glide ratio=
climb rate ms=
climb rate ftmin=
sink rate ms=
sink rate ftmin=
armament1=
armament2=
armament3=
armament4=
armament5=
armament6=

ee also

aircontent
related=
similar aircraft=
T-34 Mentor -
T-35 Buckaroo
lists=List of military aircraft of the United States

References

Notes

Bibliography

* Green, William and Gerald Pollinger. "The Aircraft of the World". London: Macdonald, 1955.

External links

* [http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Contributions/Visschedijk/2578.htm JOHAN VISSCHEDIJK COLLECTION No. 2578. Fairchild 92 XNQ-1 USAF]
* [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3819/is_199901/ai_n8831863 Planes worth modeling: Fairchild T-31]