Douglas XA-2

XA-2

Douglas XA-2 with removed cowling on the lower nose to enhance engine cooling
Role	Attack
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Douglas
Status	Prototype
Primary user	United States Army Air Corps
Number built	1
Developed from	Douglas O-2

The Douglas XA-2 was an American prototype attack aircraft converted from a Douglas O-2 observation aircraft in the spring 1926 by Douglas Aircraft. Only one prototype aircraft was built and the type was not ordered into production.

Design and development

One Douglas O-2, serial number 25-380, was modified for the new role as an attack aircraft, while the basic structure of the aircraft remained, there were several modifications made. The water-cooled Liberty engine (V-1650) of the O-2 was replaced by an inverted air-cooled Allison VG-1410 engine. The reason for this was that a water cooling system was seen as too vulnerable to enemy attack. The lower engine cowlings were omitted to allow for more cooling air flow over the engine. Second, the A-2 was more heavily armed than the O-2. The A-2 had six forward-firing .30-caliber Browning machine guns - two in the nose forward of the cockpit, and two each in the mid-upper and lower wings. Two .30-caliber Lewis guns were put on a flexible mount for use by the observer-gunner in rear defense of the aircraft. The aircraft also had the capacity for a small bomb load of 100 lb (45 kg).

The Douglas XA-2 was evaluated against the Curtiss XA-3 (a conversion of the Curtiss O-1B observation plane). The Douglas Aircraft won the initial competition, but the Army realized that the Liberty engine was both underpowered and in dwindling supply. It ordered a second competition with both models upgraded with Packard 1A-1500 engines. The Curtiss aircraft won this time and became the U.S. Army Air Corps' frontline attack aircraft (Curtiss A-3 Attack Falcon) from 1928 to 1935.

Operators

United States

United States Army Air Corps

Specifications (XA-2)

General characteristics

Crew: Two (pilot & observer / gunner)
Length: 29 ft 7 in (9.02 m)
Wingspan: 39 ft 8 in (12.09 m)
Height: 11 ft (3.4 m)
Max takeoff weight: 4,985 lb (2,261 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Allison VG-1410 inverted air-cooled V-12 piston engine, 433 hp (323 kW)

Performance

Maximum speed: 130 mph (209 km/h; 113 kn)
Cruise speed: 100 mph (87 kn; 161 km/h)
Range: 400 mi (348 nmi; 644 km)
Service ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,572 m)

Armament

Guns:
- 6 × forward firing .30-cal. (7.62 mm) Browning machine guns, two in the fuselage + one in each wing
- 2 × flexible .30-cal. Lewis machine guns
Bombs: Provision for 100 lb (45 kg) of bombs mounted on lower wing racks

Douglas military aircraft

Fighters	XFD XP-48 P-70 F3D Skyknight F4D Skyray F5D Skylancer XF6D Missileer

Ground attack	XA-2 A-20 A-24 A-26 A-33 A-1 Skyraider A-3 Skywarrior A-4 Skyhawk/A-4AR/A-4SU AC-47 DT T2D XT3D TBD Devastator SBD Dauntless BD XBTD XTB2D AD XA2D A3D A4D

Bombers	YB-7 YB-11 B-18 XB-19 XB-22 B-23 B-26 XB-31 XB-42 XB-43 B-66 DB-1 DB-2 DB-7 DB-8 DB-19 DB-73 Boston I/II/III/IV/V Digby I Havoc I/II DXD1

Observation	O-2 OD O2D O-31 O-35 O-38 O-43 YO-44 O-46 O-53 YOA-5

Patrol	PD P2D P3D

Reconnaissance	F-3

Transports	C-1 C-21 C-32 C-33 YC-34 C-38 C-39 C-41 C-41A C-42 C-47 C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 C-54 C-58 UC-67 C-68 C-74 C-84 C-110 XC-112/YC-112 XC-114 YC-116 C-117 C-118 C-124 YC-129 C-133 C-9 C-24 RD R2D R3D R4D (R4D-2 & R4D-4) R5D JD R6D CC-129 Dakota I/III/IV Dakota II LXD1 PD.808 Skymaster I

Gliders	XCG-17

Training aircraft	BT-1 BT-2 XT-30

Experimental	DWC D-558-1 D-558-2 X-3

United States attack aircraft designations, Army/Air Force and Tri-Service systems

Army/Air Force sequence
(1925-1962)

Tri-service sequence
(1962-present)

Main sequence	A-1 A-2 A-3 A-4 A-5 A-6 A-7/F A-8 A-9 A-10 A-11¹ A-12 A-13¹ A-14 A-15 to A-28¹ A-29 A-30 to A-36¹ A-37

Non-sequential	F/A-18 F/A-18E/F EA-18G A-26

¹ Not assigned

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Douglas XA-2

Design and development

Operators

Specifications (XA-2)

See also