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In June 1943, the USAAF requested Lockheed to design a fighter using the De Havilland turbojet engine developed in England. They wanted such a fighter as a response to the Messerschmitt Me 262. A special facility was set up by Lockheed under the direction of Kelly Johnson, who commanded an elite team of aircraft designers and builders. This group would eventually become known as the 'Skunkworks', and was responsible for many outstanding aircraft, including the XF-90, F-104, U-2, and the SR-71 Blackbird. The USAAF contract gave them only 180 days in which to complete the jet fighter, designated XP-80. Incredibly, they designed and built it in 143 days! The XP-80 flew for the first time on January 8, 1944.
In September 1943, before the XP-80 had made its first flight, Lockheed proposed a larger and heavier version powered by the more powerful General Electric J33 engine. The USAAF approved and ordered two prototypes under the designation XP-80A. The XP-80A flew for the first time on June 10, 1944. A problem with unstable airflow through the intake ducts was diagnosed by designer Kelly Johnson as being boundary layer separation along the walls of the duct. The problem was solved by adding a series of boundary layer bleeds along the upper edges of the ducts.
The second XP-80A became the first Shooting Star to carry a 165 gallon drop tank beneath each wingtip. These tanks actually lowered drag and improved aileron effectiveness and wing loading. Because of these benefits, Shooting Stars were seldom seen without the tanks.
Specifications:
Dimensions:
Wing span:
38 ft 10 in (11.83 m) Length:
34 ft 6 in (10.51 m) Height:
11 ft 4 in (3.45 m)
Weights:
Empty:
7,920 lb (3,593 kg) Gross:
11,700 lb (5,307 kg) Max. Take-Off:
14,000 lb (6,350 kg)
Performance:
Maximum Speed:
558 mph (898 km/h) @ Sea Level Maximum Speed:
492 mph (792 km/h) @ 40,000 ft (12,192 m) Cruise Speed:
410 mph (660 km/h) Climb:
5.5 minutes to 20,000 ft (6,096 m) Climb:
4,580 ft (1,396 m) in 1 minute Service Ceiling:
45,000 ft (1,3716 m)
Range:
Normal:
780 miles (1,255 km) Maximum:
1,210 miles (1,936 km)
Fuel Capacity:
Normal:
485 gal (1,836 lt) Maximum:
755 gal (2,858 lt)
Armament:
Six .50 caliber machine guns.
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