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 Fisher P-75 Eagle was an unconventional fighter/interceptor project developed in 1942 by auto manufacturer Fisher Body for the U.S. Army Air Forces.
Its design featured an experimental, centrally-mounted W-24 engine driving contra-rotating propellers, and it attempted to incorporate components from other existing aircraft to simplify manufacturing.
The aircraft encountered significant aerodynamic and mechanical problems during flight testing, including stability issues and engine overheating, which negated potential production efficiencies.
Ultimately, these unresolved issues led to the project's cancellation shortly after limited production, as modifying proven aircraft became a more viable option for the military.

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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.