LEADERBOARD

1st Place: XF2J-2 "Charger"

2nd Place: Nakajima Ki-202 "Goryo"

3rd Place: P-95

Runner-ups:

• GP-230 "Knucker"

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Story

The year is 1946. The United States is undergoing the occupation of Japan and parts of Germany. Knowing that the gap of technology must be kept ahead of everyone, including its allies, it releases a requirement and orders on new aircraft that utilize something that not many nations have tried: Jets. Albeit the fact they are weak at this point, the meshing of a jet with a propeller sees massive benefit, but this also means that a pure-jet aircraft was also possible. Needing new carrier-capable aircraft that could strike the enemy at intense speed, the USAAF and the USN sent out requirements.

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Real Life

In 1947, one year after the true requirements were sent out, three aircraft were invested into by the United States Army Air Force for development, and the USN had purchased some to test them out. Curtiss, Convair (then still Consolidated Aircraft Corporation), and the Ryan company all proposed their designs, each taking a different direction. Lockheed also proposed a design that had been in service for a while, but not in naval service, the P-80 Shooting star

The other three aircraft were, respectively, the XF15C-1 Stingray, the XP-81, and the FR-1 Fireball. The XF15C-1 had three prototypes, with one radial engine and one jet engine on the aft end under the fuselage, the XP-81 was the first aircraft to ever use a turboprop engine, and it also possessed a jet engine on the rear, and finally the FR-1, which historically won the competition, was in similar idea of the XF15C-1, but with worse structural stability, and the jet was mounted on the absolute tail.

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Pictures, for inspiration

XF15C-1

XP-81

FR-1

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The Real Deal, Yo

Okay, so you are hired by [INSERT COMPANY NAME] to design an aircraft to meet totally not slightly made-up requirements for an aircraft to compete to win a seat for having the aircraft put in service. There are limits in place that allow you to have creativity, but in enough point to constrict and keep it realistic

Requirements

• Firstly, it can be a replica of an aircraft from this time period, but I would much prefer that it be your design, although I sometimes use other aircrafts' blueprints to help me shape fictitious designs, so feel free to do that as well. Just wanted to put this here. Also, all planes posted should be for the United States, but like all else, rare exceptions can and will be made if necessary
• Wingspan Restriction: Between 32 and 50 feet (Even pure jets in this era should have an equal or longer-than wingspan to length ratio, I will determine through my test flights) (9.8-15.2 metres)
• Length Restriction: Between 30 and 50 feet (9.1-15.2 metres)
• Height Restriction: Keep enough clearance to allow for safe carrier operation
• Weight Restriction(gross): 10,000 lbs to 18,000 lbs (keep in mind, this is a carrier-based aircraft, too much weight and it cannot land or safely use a catapult in real life) (4536-8164 Kg)
• Weapons(Guns): At least 4 guns, max of 8. Preferably within 12.7 and 20 millimeters, although 30mm is allowed if you use one in the nosecone or two max on the wings. Make them realistic. Must be guns or revolving cannons, gas-operation only, no rotary cannons (miniguns)
• Weapons(Explosives and Pyrotechnics): Max of 2 200-1000 lbs bombs, and max of 8-10 unguided rockets. No missiles with tracking capabilities, although there could be exceptions if you ask me (like changing the mechanics of a missile to act like a wire-guided missile, like what the Messerschmitt 262 used in the end days). Anyways, preferably minimal air-to-ground weapons as this is a Naval Fighter competition

Speed Requirements: (this is what historically made this challenge in real life create the first mixed-propulsion aircraft)

• Minimum Maximum Airspeed w/out jet: 250 knots (350 knots preferably) (463 km/h)
• Minimum Maximum Airspeed Pure-Jet: 400 knots (450 knots preferably) (741 km/h)
• Minimum Maximum Propjet Combo: 400 knots all-around (741 km/h)
• Maximum Attainable Speed(propjet/purejet): 500 knots/550 knots (926 km/h/ 1018 km/h)

Allowed Propulsion Devices:
Prop-jet:

• 1 Turboprop (1500-3000 SHP Restriction) OR
• 1 Radial/Piston Engine (Preferably Radial | 1000-3500 HP Restriction)
• 1-2 Turbojet(s) (1500-4500 lbf each)

Pure jet:

• 1-3 turbojets (preferably 1-2 | 1500-7000 lbf each)

*Note, afterburner was primitive and weak at this time, but I will allow it. Almost all jets had no afterburner, but if you use it, I will allow an extra 2000 lbf for it, but it should be a separate engine from the one doing the max of 9000 lbf

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Rules:

• Basic dad stuff here
• No copying other people's builds
• Max Posts here: Aleph Null
• Only XML and FineTuner Allowed, and you need XML to do this in the first place
• If any of the requirements are broken, I will assess that it is semi-realistic, disqualify, or ask for it to be retrofitted enough to make the parameters
• Potato 2-second builds will be disqualified without question
• Minimum part count: 200
• If you need anything, and I mean anything, ask me and I will answer ASAP. Either on an unlisted post or here in the comments. Just remember I live in EST, take that into consideration
• Infinite fuel is not allowed, however, drop tanks are
• Have fun!!! That is the most important part. This is a challenge, so try to win, and you will get a reward!

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Tips:

• To make the jets realistic, look up engines like the Allison J36. Once you determine what thrust you would like to use, take the jet you want to use in-game (I use the J90 a lot), and then divide the thrust you want by what the engine produces. If you want say 4000 lbf, divide 4000 by the 20000 lbf, and your XML Engine Thrust modifier will be 0.2, making it realistic
• Like I stated before, it is okay and actually useful and preferred that you combine blueprints to help make your design and shape it realistically
• Cockpits and details (gear doors, missile flaps, cool features and stuff) will be rewarded extra points. Looks are a good part, but they won't be rated well as this isn't the main focus of the challenge
• To make this a successor, either post your build and tag a moderator with the 6-digit code for my challenge and ask them to put it under here as a successor, or, and more preferably to not piss off the mods, you can download this cockpit and build off of it, or, you can make your build a subassembly and paste it onto this cockpit and upload it that way. I suggest taking your time with this build

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Grading Scale

Speed (Realistic, and with the parameters?) x/10
Maneuverability (Is it realistic? Not too fast?) x/10
Extra Realism (Shape, details, acceleration) x/15
How close to the Requirements x/30
Carrier Operation (Can it land, take off, and go through with a mission? Does it have folding wings or space-saving features?) x/15
Tactical Feasibility (Does it pass my test?) x/10
Looks (sexy beast or vundervaffe potato?) x/5
My Opinion/Cool Stuff Extra Sexy Point x/5
Total: 100

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Reward

1st: 25 upvotes

2nd: 15 upvotes

3rd: 10 upvotes

*All approved entries will receive 1 upvote, which is separate from the possible victory, and I will also leave a message on approved submissions

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My tests are mostly fun, just seeing how everything pans out. I will grade fairly and there will be no aero-cism for these birds you all make. I will be posting my own just to show you how this works, but it in no way is to intimidate, although mine will probably suck lol.

Just a general note, I will not start grading until there are enough posts to compare my scores to so it is more accurate, and therefore they are subject to change

Anyways, y'all, your deadline is

May 1st

Good luck!