Curtiss XA-14

XA-14
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[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.^[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 (1.46 in) nose cannon.^[4]

In July 1936, 13 developed versions, re-engined with two Wright R-1820-47 Cyclone twin-row radials, were ordered into production as the Y1A-18.^[3]

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: 2 × 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 × .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns forward-firing
• 1 × .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun aft-firing
• 650 lb (295 kg) bombs in internal bay

See also

Related development

• Curtiss A-18 Shrike

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Bristol Blenheim

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States

References

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.

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.