[1] The Vultee design won the competition, beating the Curtiss XP-55 Ascender and the Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet.

After completing preliminary engineering and wind tunnel tests, a contract for a prototype was awarded on 8 January 1941.

The Pratt & Whitney X-1800 engine was proposed as the powerplant, but after its development was discontinued the liquid-cooled Lycoming XH-2470 was substituted.

Bail-out procedure was complicated by the pressurization system, necessitating a downward ejection of the pilot and seat to clear the propeller arc.

The prototypes continued to be used in an experimental program until problems with the Lycoming engines and lack of spare parts caused termination.

[3] Data from Green and Swanborough 1978, p. 84.General characteristics Performance Armament Related development Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era