The Unconventional Fisher P-75 Eagle

The U.S. Army Air Forces took a gamble on this hodgepodge aircraft, which later proved to be a poor bet.

Tuesday, August 16, 2022 at 06:58 AM ET

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Sporting F4U Corsair main landing gear and a number of components from other aircraft, the P-75 Eagle was a hodgepodge of parts and ideas. [Photo: Jason McDowell]

Key Takeaways:

The U.S. Army Air Forces gambled on the unconventional Fisher P-75 Eagle fighter in 1942, designed by auto manufacturer Fisher Body Division with a unique mid-fuselage engine and repurposed aircraft components.
Despite attempts to simplify production, the P-75 experienced severe aerodynamic and mechanical issues during testing, including stability problems and engine overheating, requiring costly redesigns.
Ultimately, the program was canceled due to these persistent problems and the availability of proven alternatives, resulting in only 14 aircraft completed before being largely scrapped.

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In early 1942, the U.S. Army Air Forces wanted to add a high-performance fighter/interceptor to the fleet. Rather than opting for a modified version of an existing aircraft like the P-51 Mustang or P-38 Lightning, they ultimately decided to take a gamble on a wholly unconventional aircraft designed and produced by an auto manufacturer using unconventional design philosophies.

This aircraft became known as the Fisher P-75 Eagle and proved to be a poor bet in more ways than one.