Chu X-PO

Chu X-PO
Role	Fighter
National origin	Republic of China
Manufacturer	AFAMF - Air Force Aircraft Manufacturing Factory
Designer	Maj. Gen. Chu Chia-Gen
First flight	1943
Number built	1

The Chu X-PO, also known as the Chu (AFAMF) X-PO, was a Chinese fighter prototype towards the end of the Second World War.

Development

Designed by the Chief of the Air Force Technical Bureau, Major General Chu Chia-Gen, in 1941, the X-PO was a single-seat fighter monoplane, the single prototype of which was produced by AFAMF in 1943. Based largely on the Curtiss Hawk 75, it was of mixed construction with wooden three-spar wings, welded steel tube fuselage and covered in plywood skinning. It could carry up to four 20 mm cannon underwing, and had capacity to carry bombs via a centreline bomb rack, allowing it to function as a dive bomber.

Operational history

It was anticipated that the X-PO would be produced in series at AFAMF No. 1 factory at Kunming, however the prototype was flown for the first time in 1943, at Yangling. After circling the airfield, the X-PO landed too fast, ground-looped and was written off. In the meantime, the American entry into World War II meant that American fighters were available to the Chinese, removing the need for China to manufacture indigenous fighter aircraft. As such no further production was carried out. No data except armaments, construction and engine have survived.

Operators

 China

Specifications (Chu X-PO)

Data from ^[1]

General characteristics

• Crew: 1
• Length: 8.8 m (28 ft 10½ in)
• Wingspan: 11.4 m (37 ft 5 in)
• Height: 3.7 m (12 ft 2 in)
• Wing area: 22 m² (236.8 ft²)
• Gross weight: 2,990 kg (6,592 lb)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-S1C3-G "Twin Wasp" radial engine, 894 kW (1,200 hp)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 504 km/h (313 mph)
• Cruising speed: 450 km/h (280 mph)
• Range: 1,400 km (870 miles)
• Service ceiling: 9,850 m (32,316 ft)

Armament

• 4 x 20 mm Hispano-Suiza underwing cannon
• 2 x bombs or torpedoes

See also

{{aircontent |related= |similar aircraft=

• [[Curtiss 75 Hawk}}

|sequence= |lists= |see also= }}

References

1. ^ "Chu-X-Po" (in Russian). Moscow: airwar.ru. http://www.airwar.ru/enc/fww2/xpo.html. Retrieved 22 October 2011. 

• Green, William; Gordon Swanborough. The Complete Book of Fighters. Godalming, UK: Salamander Books. pp. 44.