In late 1944, Consolidated Vultee wanted to bring a new type of aircraft to the skies, one which the world had never seen the likes of before. In an attempt to optimize speed and range, Consolidated came up with the XP-81, a twin engine escort fighter with a turboprop mounted to the front of the aircraft, and a turbojet in the aft fuselage. While similar concepts with the Navy and their Fireball were less than successful, Consolidated's design proved to be much more promising. Boasting a top speed of 507mph at 30,000 ft, the XP-81 would have been one of the fastest aircraft in the skies, out paced only by other jets of the time. The top speed of this aircraft likely would have increased should it have ever reached production. The XP-81 also had an impressive range of 2,500 miles, comparable to the F-82 Twin mustang that came post-war (With external fuel pods equipped, the Twin Mustang could achieve much longer distance flights). On top of the speed and range, it also had an impressive array of 6 x 20mm cannons. With speed, endurance, and firepower on its side, The XP-81 would have been unparalleled as an escort fighter. However, despite the promising results, the XP-81 was deemed unnecessary as the war came to an end, canceling the ambitious project.