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Beechcraft XA 38 Grizzly

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Top speed
  
605 km/h

Length
  
16 m

Manufacturer
  
Beechcraft

Wingspan
  
21 m

First flight
  
May 7, 1944

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly Beechcraft XA38 Grizzly Destroyer Model 28 Tactical Heavy

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.

Contents

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly Beech Aircraft Company XA38 Grizzly Old Machine Press

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.

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly Beechcraft XA38 Grizzly Let Let Let Warplanes

Design and development

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly Beech Aircraft Company XA38 Grizzly Old Machine Press

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

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly WINGS PALETTE Beech Model 28 DestroyetXA38 Grizzly USA

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.

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly Beech Aircraft Company XA38 Grizzly Old Machine Press

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.

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

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, 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

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

    Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA