XP-67 "Bat" / "Moonbat": The Experimental Interceptor That Flew Too Close to the Sun

 

 XP-67 "Bat" / "Moonbat": The Experimental Interceptor That Flew Too Close to the Sun

In the annals of aviation history, few aircraft are as visually striking and conceptually daring as the McDonnell XP-67 "Bat," nicknamed the "Moonbat." Conceived during the feverish innovation of World War II, this prototype interceptor was a radical departure from conventional fighter design—and a testament to both ambition and the limits of wartime engineering.

🌌 Origins of a Dream

In 1940, the U.S. Army Air Corps issued a Request for Proposal for a high-speed, long-range, high-altitude interceptor capable of taking down enemy bombers. McDonnell Aircraft, a newcomer to military aviation, responded with a futuristic concept: a sleek, bat-winged fighter with a pressurized cockpit and powerful armament. This would be their first attempt at building a fighter aircraft, long before their later successes with the F-4 Phantom II and F-15 Eagle.

✈️ Design That Defied Convention

The XP-67's design was nothing short of radical:

• Twin-engine configuration: Powered by two Continental XI-1430-17/19 inverted V-12 engines, each producing around 1,600 horsepower.

• Laminar flow wings: Engineered for minimal drag and maximum speed.

• Blended fuselage and nacelles: The aircraft's smooth, organic shape earned it the nickname "Bat" for its eerie silhouette.

• Planned armament: Six 37 mm M4 cannons, though none were installed on the prototype.

• Pressurized cockpit: A rare feature for fighters of the era.

🔥 Trials and Tribulations

Despite its promise, the XP-67 was plagued by technical issues:

• Engine fires and cooling problems: Persistent and dangerous, these issues cut short many test flights.

• Delayed wind tunnel testing: Competition for NACA facilities slowed development.

• Unreliable engines: Wartime production demands made sourcing dependable powerplants nearly impossible.

The first and only prototype flew on January 6, 1944—but engine trouble forced an early landing. The aircraft never met its performance goals, and the second prototype was canceled before completion. On September 13, 1944, the program was officially terminated after the sole XP-67 was destroyed in yet another engine fire.

💸 Costly Ambition

The XP-67 program cost nearly $4.75 million—a steep price for an aircraft that never saw combat. Test

pilots found it inferior to contemporaries like the P-51 Mustang, despite its futuristic design.

🦇 Legacy of the Moonbat

Though the XP-67 never entered production, it left a lasting impression. It showcased McDonnell Aircraft's willingness to push boundaries and laid the groundwork for their future dominance in jet fighter design. The "Moonbat" remains a symbol of visionary engineering—an aircraft that dared to dream big, even if it couldn’t quite deliver.