www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org - U.S.A.A.F. Resource Center

GENERAL INFORMATION:
Type:
P-61: Three-seat Night Fighter
F-15: Two-seat strategic reconaissance
Manufacturer: Northrop
Models: P-61A thru C, F-15 (RF-61C) Reporter
First Flight: May 21, 1942 (XP-61)
Service Delivery:
May 1944 (P-61A)
1946 (F-15A)
Final Delivery: N/A
Total Produced: 941 (plus 35 photo-recon versions)

POWERPLANT:
Model: Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp
Type: 18-Cyl 2-Row Radials
Horsepower (P-61A): 2,000hp R-2800-10
Horsepower (P-61B): 2,000hp R-2800-65
Horsepower (P-61C and F-15): 2,800hp R-2800-73

FUEL:
Capacity: N/A
Type: N/A

DIMENSIONS:
Wing span: 20.12m (66 ft.)
Length (P-61A): 14.92m (48 ft. 11 in.)
Length (P-61B & C): 15.1m (49 ft. 7 in.)
Length (F-15): 15.3m (50 ft. 3 in.)
Height: 4.49m (14 ft. 8 in.)
Wing Surface Area: N/A

WEIGHTS:
Empty (Typical P-61): 10,886kg (24,000 lbs.)
Empty (F-15): 9,979kg (22,000 lbs.)
Maximum, Loaded (P-61A): 14,696kg (32,400 lbs.)
Maximum, Loaded (P-61B): 17,237kg (38,000 lbs.)
Maximum, Loaded (P-61C): 18,280kg (40,300 lbs.)
Maximum, Clean (F-15): 12,700kg (28,000 lbs.)

PERFORMANCE:
Maximum Speed (P-61A & B): 366 mph (590 km/h)
Maximum Speed (P-61C): 430 mph (692 km/h)
Maximum Speed (F-15): 440 mph (708 km/h)
Initial climb (P-61A & B): 2,200 ft. (670 m) per minute
Initial climb (P-61C & F-15): 3,000 ft. (914 m) per minute
Service Ceiling (P-61A & B): 33,000 ft. (10,060 m)
Service Ceiling (P-61C & F-15): 41,000 ft. (12,500 m)
Range - Max. Fuel (P-61A): 500 Miles (2360 km)
Range - Max. Fuel (P-61B & C): 2,800 Miles (4500 km)
Range - Max. Fuel (F-15): 4,000 Miles (6440 km)

ARMAMENTS:
Four 20mm M-2 Cannon in belly, fixed forward.
Plus
Electric Dorsal turret with four .50 machine guns, remotely controlled
from front or rear sight station and fired by pilot.
(in first 37 A's, last 250 B's and all C's)
Plus (B & C Only)
Wing racks for 6,400 lb. ordnance load.

F-15 carried no armament.

COMMENTS: The P-61 was the first U.S. aircraft designed from the beginning as a night fighter, the Black Widow was a result of the experience of the RAF with radar equipped fighters. The first P-61's entered service with the 18th Fighter Group in the South Pacific and sooned gained successes there as well as in Europe.