| 词条 | Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly | ||||||||||||||||||
| 释义 |
The Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly was a World War II-era ground attack aircraft, developed by Beechcraft, but never put into production. The Grizzly was to have been fitted with a forward-firing 75 mm cannon, to penetrate heavily armored targets. While the first prototype flew on 7 May 1944, testing established that the type would not be ready for the projected invasion of Japan. It also featured the Wright R-3350 engines already in use with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress—which had priority. Consequently, the XA-38 was canceled after a second prototype had been completed. Design and developmentThe 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. TestingOn 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 USAAF 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|date=January 2012}}, 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{{Aircraft specifications||plane or copter?=plane |jet or prop?=prop |ref=Plane Facts: The big gun Beech[2] |crew=2 |length main=51 ft 9 in |length alt=15.77 m |span main=67 ft 4 in |span alt=20.52 m |height main=15 ft 6 in |height alt=4.72 m |area main=626 ft² |area alt=58.15 m² |empty weight main=22,480 lb |empty weight alt=10,197 kg |loaded weight main= |loaded weight alt= |max takeoff weight main=35,265 lb |max takeoff weight alt=15,996 kg |engine (prop)= Wright R-3350-43 |type of prop= air-cooled radial engine |number of props=2 |power main= 2,300 hp |power alt= 1,716 kW |max speed main= 370 mph |max speed alt=322 knots, 595 km/h |max speed more=at 17,000 ft (5,180 m) |range main=1,625 miles |range alt=1,413 nmi, 2,615 km |ceiling main=29,000 ft |ceiling alt=8,840 m |climb rate main=2,600 ft/min |climb rate alt=13.2 m/s |loading main= |loading alt= |power/mass main= |power/mass alt= |guns=
}} See also{{Portal|Military of the United States|United States Air Force|Aviation}}{{Aircontent||related= |similar aircraft=
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|see also= }} References{{More footnotes|date=November 2009}}1. ^{{cite journal|last1=Trimble|first1=Robert L..|title=Beech Grizzly|journal=Air Classics|date=August 1983|volume=9|issue=7|page=24}} 2. ^{{cite journal|title=Plane Facts: The big gun Beech|journal=Air International| date=June 1986| volume=30| issue=6| page=300| issn=0306-5634}} Further reading
External links{{commons category|Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly}}
6 : Beechcraft aircraft|United States attack aircraft 1940–1949|Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States|Aircraft first flown in 1944|Mid-wing aircraft|Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft |
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