Boeing XAT-15

AT-15

National origin: United States
Manufacturer: Boeing Wichita
First flight: 1942
Primary user: United States Army Air Corps
Number built: 2

The Boeing AT-15 was an American twin-engined bomber crew trainer designed and built by Boeing's Wichita Division. Only two prototypes, designated XAT-15, were built. Plans to build over 1,000 were cancelled on the United States entry into the second world war. The proposed name Crewmaker was not officially adopted.

Development

One of the first projects for the former Stearman Aircraft Company which in 1939 had become the Wichita Division of Boeing was a twin-engined trainer for bomber crews. Designated X-120 by the company two examples were ordered by the United States Army Air Corps as the XAT-15. The AT-15 was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with two wing mounted Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engines. It had a retractable tailwheel landing gear and an extended glazed fuselage nose for the trainee bomb-aimer. Due to shortage of materials the aircraft was built of welded steel tube covered with plywood and wooden wings and tail unit. The two aircraft were delivered to the USAAC but after the countries entry into the war a change in priorities resulted in a planned order for over 1,000 aircraft was not placed.

Operator

United States

United States Army Air Corps

Specifications (XAT-15)

Data from

General characteristics

Crew: 1
Length: 42 ft 4 in (12.90 m)
Wingspan: 59 ft 8 in (18.19 m)
Wing area: 457 ft² (42.46 m²)
Empty weight: 10,640 lb (4826 kg)
Gross weight: 14,355 lb (6511 kg)
Powerplant: 2 x— Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial piston engine, 600 hp (447 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h)
Range: 850 miles (1368 km)
Service ceiling: 18,900 ft (5760 m)

Armament

4 x 0.3in (7.62mm) machine-gun
10 x 100lb (45kg) bomb

Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions.
The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.

Boeing XAT-15 Pictures

Living Warbirds: The best warbirds DVD series.

Source: WikiPedia