Vultee Aircraft
Vultee P-66 Vanguard
The Vultee P‑66 Vanguard was a low‑wing, single‑engine fighter‑bomber developed by Vultee Aircraft in the early 1940s. Conceived in 1939 as a response to the United States Army Air Corps request for a modern, all‑metal pursuit aircraft, the prototype first flew on 30 October 1940. Powered by a Pratt & Whitney R‑1830‑92 Twin Wasp radial engine delivering 1,200 hp, the P‑66 featured a streamlined fuselage, retractable landing gear, and an enclosed cockpit with a bubble canopy. Its armament typically consisted of two .50‑caliber machine guns mounted in the wings and provisions for up to 500 lb of bombs or rockets under the wings, giving it a versatile ground‑attack capability.
Although the type performed well in test trials, production was limited to 300 airframes because the U.S. adopted the more powerful Lockheed P‑38 and Republic P‑47 for frontline duty. Consequently, most Vanguards were supplied to allied forces, notably the Royal Air Force, the South African Air Force, and the Chinese Nationalist Air Force, where they saw combat in the Burma and China‑Burma‑India theaters. The P‑66 remains significant as an example of American innovation that bolstered allied air power in secondary theaters and demonstrated Vultee’s ability to produce a competitive multi‑role combat aircraft.
Although the type performed well in test trials, production was limited to 300 airframes because the U.S. adopted the more powerful Lockheed P‑38 and Republic P‑47 for frontline duty. Consequently, most Vanguards were supplied to allied forces, notably the Royal Air Force, the South African Air Force, and the Chinese Nationalist Air Force, where they saw combat in the Burma and China‑Burma‑India theaters. The P‑66 remains significant as an example of American innovation that bolstered allied air power in secondary theaters and demonstrated Vultee’s ability to produce a competitive multi‑role combat aircraft.
Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 146
- First Flight
- 1939
Design & Classification
- Country of Origin
- Manufacturer
- Vultee Aircraft
- Developer
- Vultee Aircraft
- Military Designation
- J 10
- Engine
- R-1830 Twin Wasp
- Operator
-
United States Army Air Forces Republic of China Air Force
- Wikidata ID
- Q275552