The Consolidated Vultee XP-81 was a single-seat, long-range escort fighter designed to be powered by both turbojet-and turboprop engines. Two protypes were ordered in February 1944 and equipped with a General Electric TG-100 turboprop – meant to be used for cruise flight – and a General Electric J33 turbojet, to be used for high-speed flight. Both examples suffered due to development problems, causing their reengining with a V-1650- 7 engine of the P-51D. Although showing good handling characteristics, and the USAAF having requested 13 pre-production aircraft, the order was cancelled when Japan capitulated on 2 September 1945. Flight testing was continued until 1947, when both XP-81s were reduced to targets on a bombing range. (Artwork by Goran Sudar)