Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly
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This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2010) |
| XA-38 Grizzly | |
|---|---|
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| Role | Heavy attack |
| Manufacturer | Beechcraft |
| First flight | 7 May 1944 |
| Status | Canceled |
| Primary user | U.S. Army Air Forces |
| Number built | Two |
The Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly was a United States ground attack aircraft, fitted with a forward-firing 75 mm cannon to attack heavily armored targets. The first prototype flew on 7 May 1944 but after testing it became obvious it would not be ready for the projected invasion of Japan, and furthermore it used engines required by the B-29 Superfortress — which had priority - and so it was canceled after two prototypes had been completed.
Design and development
The United States Army Air Forces awarded the Beech Aircraft Corporation a contract in December 1942 for two prototypes for their Model 28 "Destroyer". The requirement was for a powerful ground attack aircraft to replace the Douglas A-20 Havoc, with the ability to hit "hardened" targets like tanks and bunkers. This capability was achieved through a 75 mm cannon with 20 rounds, mounted in a fixed position on the nose as well as two .50 cal (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns firing forward. Defensive armament consisted of remotely-controlled ventral and dorsal turrets, each armed with twin .50 cal (12.7 mm) machine guns. There were to be two crew members, a pilot and an observer/gunner in the rear cabin, using periscope sights to aim the guns.
Testing
On 7 May 1944, Beech test pilot Vern Carstens flew the XA-38 on its maiden flight from the company's Wichita airfield. The aircraft proved satisfactory in all respects and better than expected in some, including top speed.
During testing, the XA-38 prototypes were flown by U.S. Army pilots and serviced by military personnel, proving to be reliable and establishing a high level of serviceability.[1]
The armament proved especially effective and had it not been for wartime priorities shifting in 1944, the aircraft would most likely have been ordered in quantity[citation needed], although the B-29 had priority for the Wright R-3350 engines. Instead, one prototype was scrapped and the other, intended for the USAF Museum, had an unknown fate.
Specifications
Data from Plane Facts: The big gun Beech[2]
General characteristics
- Crew: 2
- Length: 51 ft 9 in (15.77 m)
- Wingspan: 67 ft 4 in (20.52 m)
- Height: 15 ft 6 in (4.72 m)
- Wing area: 626 ft² (58.15 m²)
- Empty weight: 22,480 lb (10,197 kg)
- Max. takeoff weight: 35,265 lb (15,996 kg)
- Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-3350-43 air-cooled radial engine, 2,300 hp (1,716 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 370 mph (322 knots, 595 km/h) at 17,000 ft (5,180 m)
- Range: 1,625 miles (1,413 nmi, 2,615 km)
- Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,840 m)
- Rate of climb: 2,600 ft/min (13.2 m/s)
Armament
- Guns:
- 1 × T15E1 75 mm cannon (20 rounds)
- 6 × 50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine guns (2 forward-facing, 2 in ventral turret, 2 in dorsal turret)
References
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This article includes a list of references, but its sources remain unclear because it has insufficient inline citations. (November 2009) |
- Notes
- Bibliography
- McCullough, Anson. "Grind 'Em Out Ground Attack: The Search for the Elusive Fighter Bomber". Wings Vol. 25, No. 4, August 1995.
- "Plane Facts: The big gun Beech". Air International, Vol 30 No 6, June 1986, p. 300. ISSN 0306-5634.
- Trimble, Robert L. "Beech Grizzly". Air Classics Vol. 9, no. 7, August 1983.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly |
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