The Curtiss XA-14 was a 1930s
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
airplane, the first multi-engine
attack aircraft tested by the
United States Army Air Corps
The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical r ...
. 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 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 ...
s, flight testing was sufficiently impressive that after the USAAC appraisal the Model 76 was returned to Curtiss and fitted with two
Wright R-1670-5 Whirlwind engines with two-position
variable-pitch propellers. This configuration was accepted by the Army with the designation XA-14.
[Eden and Moeng 2002. pp. 74–77.] It had standard Army markings with the serial number 36-146.
[Swanborough and Bowers 1964, p. 231.]
The Model 76 was of all-metal construction with an oval section
semimonocoque
The term semi-monocoque or semimonocoque refers to a stressed shell structure that is similar to a true monocoque, but which derives at least some of its strength from conventional reinforcement. Semi-monocoque construction is used for, among ot ...
fuselage
The fuselage (; from the French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an engine as well, although in some amphibious aircraf ...
, described as "pencil slim". The XA-14 was extensively tested, at one stage being fitted with a cannon in the nose.
[Fitzsimons 1967/1969, p. 2324.]
In July 1936, 13 developed versions, re-engined with two
Wright R-1820-47 Cyclone
The Wright R-1820 Cyclone 9 is an American radial engine developed by Curtiss-Wright, widely used on aircraft in the 1930s through 1950s. It was produced under license in France as the Hispano-Suiza 9V or Hispano-Wright 9V, and in the Soviet Uni ...
9-cylinder radials, were ordered into production as the
Y1A-18.
Specifications (XA-14)
See also
References
;Notes
;Bibliography
* Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng, eds. ''The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft''. London: Amber Books Ltd., 2002. .
*
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. .
* Swanborough, F. Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. ''United States Military Aircraft Since 1909.'' New York: Putnam, 1964. .
* Wagner, Ray. ‘’American Combat Planes, Third Enlarged Edition.’’ Garden City, New York: Doubleday & Company, Inc. 1982 .
{{Curtiss aircraft
A-14
A-14, Curtiss
Mid-wing aircraft
Aircraft first flown in 1935
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft