The design sought to have an improved high-altitude performance and higher speeds, at all altitudes, which was to be assisted by the 18-cylinder Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone engine. It was to be armed with four 20 mm (0.79 in) autocannons, a heavier armament than contemporary USAAF fighter aircraft, and was fitted with a pressurized cockpit.
Design and development
The terms of the contract proposal of 29 April 1941 called for the first flight within fifteen months of the award and meet the following objectives.
Maximum level flight speed at 27,000 ft (8,200 m) had to exceed 468 mph (753 km/h).
Armament to be either eight 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons or twelve 0.50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns, mounted in the wings.
Two prototypes were ordered; the first designated XP-62 and the second designated XP-62A.
On 2 August 1941, the specifications were amended for the XP-62, reducing the maximum speed to 448 mph (721 km/h) with eight 20 mm (0.79 in) cannons, and increasing the loaded weight by 1,537 lb (697 kg).
During a project review of 1 January 1942, the specification was again revised, with the loaded weight reduced by eliminating four cannons and removing the propellerde-icing equipment.
On 25 May 1942 a contract for 100 P-62 fighters was awarded. However, on 27 July 1942, before production could begin, the contract for the P-62 was terminated (although not, apparently, the XP-62A) because of the effect on deliveries of Curtiss-built Republic P-47 Thunderbolts.
While work on the XP-62A continued, it progressed slowly, owing to its low priority. Delays in delivery of the pressure-cabin supercharger and engine modifications delayed the first flight until 21 July 1943. Only a limited amount of flight testing was carried out before the XP-62A was canceled on 21 September 1943 and full performance characteristics were not obtained. The prototype was scrapped in early 1944.
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