The Northrop P-61 Black Widow, named for the American spider, was the first operational U.S. warplane designed as a night fighter, and the first aircraft designed to use radar.The P-61 had a crew of three: pilot, gunner, and radar operator. It was armed with four 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano M2 forward-firing cannons mounted in the lower fuselage, and four .50 in (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns mounted in a remote-controlled dorsal gun turret.

It was anall-metal, twin-engine, twin-boom design developed during World War II. The first test flight was made on May 26, 1942, with the first production aircraft rolling off the assembly line in October 1943. The last aircraft was retired from government service in 1954.

Although not produced in the large numbers of its contemporaries, the Black Widow was effectively operated as a night-fighter by United States Army Air Forces squadrons in the European Theater, Pacific Theater, China Burma India Theater, and Mediterranean Theater during World War II. It replaced earlier British-designed night-fighter aircraft that had been updated to incorporate radar when it became available. After the war, the P-61-redesignated the F-61-served in the United States Air Force as a long-range, all-weather, day/night interceptor for Air Defense Command until 1948, and Fifth Air Force until 1950.

On the night of 14 August 1945, a P-61B of the 548th Night Fight Squadron named Lady in the Dark was unofficially credited with the last Allied air victory before VJ Day. The P-61 was also modified to create the F-15 Reporter photo-reconnaissance aircraftfor the United States Army Air Forces and subsequently used by the United States Air Force.

Spec Check:

• Wingspan: 1500mm(59in)
• Length: 1126mm(44.3in)
• Wing Area: 34dm²
• Wing Loading: 72g/dm²
• Flying Weight: 2450g
• Servo: 9g*9pcs, 17g
• ESC: 2 X 40A with 3A BEC*
• Motor: 2 x Brushless BM3512A-KV650
• Landing Gear: 3pcs E-retract
• LED Driver and Lights: Yes

Please Note: This kit requires the following for completion: RC 6-channel radio system, 4S 14.8V 4000mAh 25C battery pack & battery charger.

For further information: on flying your RC plane in a safe and responsible manner please check out www.bmfa.org