Chu XP-1 Chinese Fighter Prototype

Chu XP-1 Chinese Fighter Prototype

The Chu-XP-1 was a Chinese fighter prototype with a forward swept inverted gull wing designed during World War Two. Completed in the summer of 1944, the aircraft was unable to enter flight testing right away due to Japanese air activity in the region. Its first flight was delayed until January 1945. The XP-1 demonstrated instability on its flight as well as an inability to climb. This was attributed to the engine which had been salvaged from a crashed C-47 Skytrain. During the flight, the aircraft stalled while attempting to return to the airfield and crashed.

A second prototype was under construction, but this was abandoned after the crash. With the availability of US aircraft increasing, no further design work was undertaken.

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