The Curtiss XA-14 was a 1930s
United States
The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
airplane, the first multi-engine
attack aircraft
An attack aircraft, strike aircraft, or attack bomber is a tactical military aircraft that has a primary role of carrying out airstrikes with greater precision than bombers, and is prepared to encounter strong low-level air defenses while pr ...
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 ri ...
. 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 engine, reciprocating type internal combustion engine, internal combustion engine configuration in which the cylinder (engine), cylinders "radiate" outward from a central crankcase like the spokes of a wheel. ...
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 fuselage
The fuselage (; from the French language, French ''fuselé'' "spindle-shaped") is an aircraft's main body section. It holds Aircrew, crew, passengers, or cargo. In single-engine aircraft, it will usually contain an Aircraft engine, engine as wel ...
, 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 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
Aircraft with retractable conventional landing gear