P-61 Black Widow: Meaning (information, definition, explanation, facts)

P-61 Black Widow
Northrop P-61
Description
Role
Crew
Dimensions
Length
Wingspan
Height
Wing area
Weights
Empty
Loaded
Maximum take-off
Powerplant
Engines: 2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 Double Wasp
Power: 2000 hp each
Performance
Maximum speed
Combat range
Ferry range
Service ceiling
Rate of climb
Armament
Guns
Bombs

The Northrop P-61 Black Widow was the first American aircraft designed specifically as a radar-equipped night fighter. 700 were built, and they saw service in the Pacific from May 1944 onwards and over Europe from June. They were designed to carry the centimetric SCR-720 radar, but took over three years of development work to perfect.

Northrop also built a photo-reconnaissance version of the fighter called the F-15 Reporter.