P-61 BLACK WIDOW: America's Night-Interceptor (720p)

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• published: 05 Jun 2014
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This aviation video documentary is structured to show the United States aircraft Northrop P-61 Black Widow, named for the American spider, was the first operational U.S. airplane designed as a night interceptor, and the first designed to use radar technology. The P-61 had a crew of three defended with four 20 mm (.79 in) forward-firing Hispano M2 Brownings mounted in the lower fuselage, and four .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning's in a remote-controlled dorsal gun turret. It was an all-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design and the first test flight was made on 26 May 1942, with the first production aircraft rolling off the assembly line in October 1943. The last aircraft was retired from government service in 1954. Although not produced in the large numbers of its contemporaries, the Black Widow was effectively operated as a night-interceptor by USAF squadrons in the European Theater, the Pacific Theater, the China Burma India Theater and the Mediterranean Theater. It replaced earlier British-designed night-aircraft that had been updated to incorporate radar when it became available. The P-61—redesignated the F-61—served in the as a long-range, all weather, day/night interceptor for Air Defense Command until 1948, and Fifth AF until 1950. On the night of 14 August 1945, a P-61B of the 548th Night Fight Squadron named "Lady in the Dark" was unofficially credited with the last Allied air victory before VJ Day. The P-61 was also modified to create the F-15 Reporter photo-reconnaissance aircraft. SPECIFICATIONS: Role : Night Interceptor National origin: United States Manufacturer: Northrop First flight: 26 May 1942 Introduction: 1944 Retired: 1954 Primary users: United States Army Air Forces, USAF Number built: 706 Unit cost : US $190,000 Variants: Northrop F-15 Reporter PERFORMANCE: Maximum speed: 366 mph (589 km/h) at 20,000 ft (6,095 m) Range: 610 mi (520 nmi, 982 km) Ferry range: 1,900 mi (1,650 nmi, 3,060 km) w/4 external fuel tanks Service ceiling: 33,100 ft (10,600 m) Rate of climb: 2,540 ft/min (12.9 m/s) Wing loading: 45 lb/ft2 (219 kg/m2) Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (250 W/kg) Time to altitude: 12 min to 20,000 ft (6,100 m) (1,667 ft/min) 4 × 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano M2, 200 rounds per gun 4 × .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning in remotely operated, full-traverse upper turret, 560 rpg For ground support up to 1,600 lb (726 kg) each or six 5 in (127 mm) HVAR unguided rockets could be carried under the wings. AVIONICS: SCR-720 (AI Mk.X) search radar SCR-695 tail warning radar Northrop P-61 Black Widow http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northrop_P-61_Black_Widow FOLLOW ON: https://www.facebook.com/documentarytube.net https://twitter.com/DocArchive