Originally Posted by
elmshoot
F-15 the prop plane
Sparky, that's just about the best wrong answer I've seen. It does fit all the clues and I'm even going to include a bit about the Reporter, below. But it isn't where we're headed, buddy. Still you earn not one, but two bonus clues; for such a great answer. Thanks; Ernie P.
The Northrop F-15 Reporter (later RF-61) was an American unarmed photographic reconnaissance aircraft. Based on the NorthropP-61 Black Widow night fighter, it was the last piston-powered photo-reconnaissance aircraft designed and produced for the United States Air Force. Though produced in limited quantities, and with a relatively short service life, the F-15's aerial photographs of the Korean Peninsula would prove vital in 1950, when North Korea invaded the south.
Design and development
The F-15 Reporter was created when the guns were removed from the experimental XP-61E, the last fighter variant of the P-61 Black Widow. With less than six months flying time, the first XP-61E was taken back to the Northrop modification shop where it was converted into an unarmed photographic reconnaissance aircraft. All the guns were removed, and a new nose was fitted, capable of holding an assortment of aerial cameras. The aircraft, redesignated XF-15, flew for the first time on 3 July 1945, with Northrop test pilot L. A. "Slim" Parrett at the controls. A P-61C-1-NO (serial number 42-8335) was also modified to XF-15 standards as the XF-15A. Apart from the turbosupercharged R-2800-C engines, it was identical to the XF-15 and flew for the first time on 17 October 1945. For unknown reasons Northrop subcontracted the nose for the F-15A to the Hughes Tool Company[3] of Culver City, California. The F-15A used the existing P-61C wings (without fighter brakes), engines and tail sections but with an entirely new, more streamlined fuselage housing a crew of two under a continuous bubble-canopy. As a result of continuing development trouble with the Howard Hughes-designed XF-11, the staff of the Army Air Force Headquarters determined an immediate need for 320 F-15 Reporters. Even before the first flight of the XF-15 an initial contract for 175 aircraft was signed in June 1945. Following testing it was determined that the F-15 Reporter possessed similar performance and flight characteristics to the troublesome XF-11, despite the Reporter being powered by less powerful engines, and using mostly pre-existing parts. This spelled the end to further development of the XF-11.
What warbird do I describe?
1. This aircraft was one of those which just missed service in the war in which it was designed.
2. It was actually in production at war’s end, but hadn’t actually reached field units.
3. It was put into service a few months after the war ended.
4. It stayed in production for some time, and stayed in service for more than 15 years.
5. It was placed into service by several countries.
6. It was produced by a famous builder/design firm.
7. And it was based upon a very famous aircraft.
8. It was basically a reconnaissance version of a fighter aircraft.
9. With two seats, rather than one.
10. The fighter version was produced in relatively large numbers and engaged in combat routinely; but the recon version simply didn’t arrive in time to go into combat during the war.
11. A floatplane version was produced.
12. As well as a (limited seating) passenger version.