Manufacturer: NORTHROP

Model: N-22A

Name: Salamander

Type:

Date: 1948

Status: Experimental

Country: United States

Service: U.S. Air Force

Designation: XA-48

The Northrop N-22A Salamander was evaluated by USAF circa 1948 as the XA-48 in response to a specification calling for a long-range day/night attack bomber to replace the Havocs and Invaders.

The Salamander competed with the Fairchild M-202 Kestrel (XA-46), the Martin Meerkat (XA-47) and the Hughes H-18 Hussar (XA-49). The Salamander was clearly the best of all four but eventually the Air Force lost interest in the program and soon ended the A-class to refocus on bombers, fighters and missiles only.

There is only so much you can do with an aircraft: change the number of engines, turn it into a twin-fuselage type, stretch here, shrink there, change the tail from single to twin, turn a tractor into a pusher, etc. The Salamander was originally a twin-boom aircraft. Which one?

•  Very nice enrichment to the P-61 family! (Tophe)
• For a WW-II era aircraft design it is very sleek.  (ONI-Defense)

It is, isn't it? That's why it nearly won!! LOL

Yes, it was indeed a P-61 Black Widow, congrats, Tophe!