The Curtiss A-8 was a low-wing

monoplane A monoplane is a fixed-wing aircraft configuration with a single mainplane, in contrast to a biplane or other types of multiplanes, which have multiple planes. A monoplane has inherently the highest efficiency and lowest drag of any wing con ...

ground-attack aircraft built by the

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company Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, designed in response to a 1929

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requirement for an attack aircraft to replace the A-3 Falcon. The Model 59 "Shrike" was designated XA-8 (the "Shrike" nickname was not officially adopted).

Development

The XA-8 won a competition against the General Aviation/Fokker XA-7, after which 13 service test aircraft were ordered (five as YA-8s and eight as Y1A-8s). After the completion of testing, 11 of these aircraft were redesignated A-8. The A-8 was the first Curtiss machine of all-metal low-wing monoplane configuration with advanced features such as automatic

leading edge slats Slats are aerodynamic surfaces on the leading edge of the wing of a fixed-wing aircraft which, when deployed, allow the wing to operate at a higher angle of attack. A higher coefficient of lift is produced as a result of angle of attack and speed ...

and trailing-edge

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s. Four forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm)

machine gun A machine gun is a fully automatic, rifled autoloading firearm designed for sustained direct fire with rifle cartridges. Other automatic firearms such as automatic shotguns and automatic rifles (including assault rifles and battle rifles) ar ...

s were mounted in the wheel fairings, and an additional weapon of the same calibre was fitted in the observer's cockpit for rear defense. The standard bomb load was four 100 lb (45 kg) bombs. One YA-8 was fitted with a

radial engine The radial engine is a reciprocating type internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. It resembles a stylized star when viewed from the front, and is ...

and designated YA-10, while another was used for testing of the Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror engine as the Y1A-8A. This aircraft was redesignated A-8 upon the completion of testing. 46 aircraft were ordered as A-8Bs, however the order was changed to the Model 60 A-12s before production began.

Operational history

The A-8 created a sensation in US aviation circles when it went into service with the 3rd Attack Group at

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in April 1932. All other standard aircraft were of biplane configuration, and the first monoplane fighter (the Boeing P-26A) did not become operational until eight months later.

Variants

;XA-8: Model 59, one prototype, (30-387), length , wingspan , gross weight Curtiss V-1570-23 direct drive engine EL-2003-00274

;YA-8: Model 59A, service test aircraft, 5 built, (32-344 to 32-348), gross weight , one was reworked as the YA-10 prototype with the

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radial engine ;Y1A-8: service test aircraft, 8 built, (32-349 to 32-356) gross weight ;A-8: 12 redesignated YA-8 and Y1A-8 aircraft ;Y1A-8A: last Y1A-8 with Curtiss V-1570-57 geared engine, length , gross weight ;A-8A: redesignated Y1A-8A aircraft ;A-8B: cancelled, replaced by A-12 Shrike

Operators

; *

Specifications (YA-8)

References