Curtiss XA-14

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.

XA-14
Curtiss XA-14
Role Ground attack
Manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
First flight 17 July 1935
Status Prototype
Primary user U.S. Army Air Corps
Number built 1[1]
Developed into A-18 Shrike

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 Whirlwind engines with two-position variable-pitch 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 37 mm (1.457 in) cannon in the nose.[4]

In July 1936, 13 developed versions, re-engined with two 850 hp (630 kW) Wright R-1820-47 Cyclone 9-cylinder radials, were ordered into production as the Y1A-18.[3]

Specifications (XA-14)

Data from Curtiss Aircraft 1907–1947[5]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 2
  • Length: 40 ft 6 in (12.34 m)
  • Wingspan: 59 ft 6 in (18.14 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 0 in (3.35 m)
  • Wing area: 530 sq ft (49 m2)
  • Empty weight: 8,875 lb (4,026 kg)
  • Gross weight: 11,656 lb (5,287 kg)
  • Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-1670-5 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial piston engines, 775 hp (578 kW) each
  • Propellers: 2-bladed two-position variable-pitch propellers

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 243 mph (391 km/h, 211 kn) at sea level
  • Cruise speed: 222 mph (357 km/h, 193 kn)
  • Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,500 m)
  • Rate of climb: 1,690 ft/min (8.6 m/s)

Armament

  • 4 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns forward-firing
  • 1 × 0.30 in (7.62 mm) machine-gun on a flexible mount in the rear cockpit
  • 650 lb (290 kg) bombs in an internal bomb-bay

See also

Related development

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

Related lists

References
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Curtiss XA-14.
Notes
  1. Fahey 1946, p. 21.
  2. Eden and Moeng 2002. pp. 74–77.
  3. Swanborough and Bowers 1964, p. 231.
  4. Fitzsimons 1967/1969, p. 2324.
  5. Bowers, Peter M. (1979). Curtiss aircraft, 1907-1947. London: Putnam. pp. 365–368. ISBN 0370100298.
Bibliography
  • Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng, eds. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. ISBN 0-7607-3432-1.
  • Fahey, James C. U.S. Army Aircraft 1908-1946. New York: Ships and Aircraft, 1946.
  • Fitzsimons, Bernard, ed. The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the 20th Century Weapons and Warfare, Vol. 21. London: Purnell & Sons Ltd. 1967/1969. ISBN 0-8393-6175-0.
  • Swanborough, F. Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909. New York: Putnam, 1964. ISBN 0-85177-816-X.
  • Wagner, Ray. ‘’American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition.’’ Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1982 ISBN 0-385-13120-8.
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