<p>The Curtiss XF-87 Blackhawk fighter was an eye-catching and truly graceful all-black aircraft which attracted plenty of attention in flights over the California desert. The XF-87 resulted from studies by the manufacturer in a last-ditch effort to compete in the jet era. Curtiss had obtained tentative approval to build a twin-jet ground-attack aircraft, the XA-43. On 21 November 1945, this project was redirected towards completion of the Blackhawk fighter, a huge mid-wing four-engined craft with a two-man crew in side-by-side seating, and with impressive fuel capacity. Powered by four 3,000-lb (13.34-kN) thrust Westinghouse XJ34-WE-7 turbojets, the sole XF-87 (46-522) was belatedly flown at Muroc Dry Lake, California, on 1 March 1948 following long delays in its development and shipment from the company's plant (later sold to North American) in Columbus, Ohio.
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<p>The XF-87 proved to be underpowered. In the expectation that a different powerplant arrangement would make the Blackhawk more competitive, the twin-engined scheme was resurrected. On 10 June 1948, the USAF awarded a contract to Curtiss for 57 production F-87As to be powered by two 6,000-lb (26.68-kN) thrust each General Electric J47-GE-7 engines. A further order was placed for 30 RF-87A reconnaissance aircraft.
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<p>The F-87 Blackhawk, or company model CW-29A, would have been fitted with an extraordinary nose turret developed by the Glenn L. Martin Company which revolved in a 60-degree arc, enabling four 20-mm guns to be fired at any angle from 0 to 90 degrees from the centerline.
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<p>Although the Blackhawk was able to overcome teething troubles in flight tests and seemed to offer promise as an all-weather interceptor, it was the misfortune of this beautiful aircraft that Curtiss was suffering from management difficulties and Northrop was developing an interceptor with solid potential, the F-89 Scorpion. On 18 October 1948, the USAF cancelled the F-87 Blackhawk program in favor of the F-89. A second prototype which would have evaluated the twin J47 installation was never completed. It was to be the last Curtiss fighter.
<item><hi format=bold>Powerplant:</hi> four 3,000-lb (13.34-kN) thrust Westinghouse XJ-34-WE-7 turbojet engines
<item><hi format=bold>Performance:</hi> maximum speed 600 mph (965.6 km/h) at sea level; climb to 35,000 ft (10,668 m) in 13 minutes; service ceiling 41,000 ft (12,497 m); range 1,000 miles (1,609 km)
<item><hi format=bold>Weights:</hi> empty 25,930 lb (11,762 kg); maximum take-off 49,900 lb (22,634 kg)
<item><hi format=bold>Dimensions:</hi> span 60 ft 0 in (18.29 m); length 62 ft 10 in (19.15 m); height 20 ft 0 in (6.1 m); wing area 600 sq ft (55.74 m<su>2</su>)
<item><hi format=bold>Armament:</hi> four 20-mm cannon in flexible Martin nose turret planned but not installed
