Curtiss YA-14
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| XA-14 | |
|---|---|
 Curtiss XA-14 |
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| Type | Ground attack |
| Manufacturer | Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company |
| Maiden flight | September 1935 |
| Status | Prototype |
| Primary user | U.S. Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 1[1] |
| Variants | A-18 Shrike |
The Curtiss XA-14 was a 1930s United States airplane, the first multi-engine attack aircraft tested by the United States Army Air Corps. Carrying a crew of two, it was as fast as the standard pursuit aircraft in service at the time.
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[edit] Design and development
Originally built as an in-house venture as the Curtiss Model 76, powered by two experimental Wright XR-1510 radial engines, flight testing was sufficiently impressive that after the USAAC appraisal the Model 76 was returned to Curtiss and fitted with two 775 hp (578 kW) Wright R-1670-5 Cyclone engines with constant-speed propellers. This configuration was accepted by the Army with the designation XA-14.[2] It had standard Army markings with the serial number 36-146.[3]
The Model 76 was of all-metal construction with an oval section semimonocoque fuselage, described as "pencil slim". The XA-14 was extensively tested, at one stage being fitted with a 37mm (1.46 in) nose cannon.[4]
In July 1936 thirteen (serial numbers 37-52 to 37-64) developed versions, re-engined with two Wright R-1820-47 Cyclone twin-row radials, were ordered into production as the Y1A-18.[3]
[edit] Specifications (XA-14)
Data from USAF Museum
General characteristics
- Crew: two
- Length: 40 ft 3 in (12.3 m)
- Wingspan: 59 ft 5 in (18.11 m)
- Height: 10 ft 9 in (3.3 m)
- Max takeoff weight: 11,750 lb (5,329.7 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Wright R-1670-5 radials, 775 hp (578 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220.7 knots (254 mph, 408.8 km/h)
- Range: 717 nm (825 mi, 1,327.7 km)
- Service ceiling 27,100 ft (8,260 m)
Armament
- 4 x .30-calibre machine guns forward-firing
- 1 x .30-calibre machine gun aft-firing
- 650 lb bombs in internal bay
[edit] References
- ^ "U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946" by James C. Fahey, 1946, 64pp.
- ^ "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.
- ^ a b "United States Military Aircraft Since 1909" by F. G. Swanborough & Peter M. Bowers (Putnam New York, ISBN 085177816X) 1964, 596 pp.
- ^ "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the 20th Century Weapons and Warfare" Editor: Bernard Fitzsimons (Purnell & Sons Ltd., ISBN 0839361750) 1967/1969, Vol. 21, page 2324
[edit] See also
Related development
Comparable aircraft
Related lists
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