Curtiss XA-14

XA-14

Picture - Curtiss XA-14

Role: Ground attack
Manufacturer: Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
First flight: September 1935
Status: Prototype
Primary user: U.S. Army Air Corps
Number built: 1
Developed into: 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.

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. It had standard Army markings with the serial number 36-146.

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 37 mm (1.46 in) nose cannon.

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.

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 (5,330 kg)
Powerplant: 2x— Wright R-1670-5 radials, 775 hp (578 kW) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 254 mph (221 kn, 409 km/h)
Range: 825 mi (717 nmi, 1,328 km)
Service ceiling: 27,100 ft (8,260 m)

Armament

4 x— .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns forward-firing
1 x— .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun aft-firing
650 lb (295 kg) bombs in internal bay

Related development

A-18 Shrike

Comparable aircraft

Bristol Blenheim

Curtiss XA-14 Pictures

More aircraft.

Source: WikiPedia