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Vultee XA-41
From PlaneSpottingWorld, for aviation fans everywhere
| Consolidated-Vultee XA-41 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| image needed Consolidated-Vultee XA-41 | |||
| Description | |||
| Role | Ground Attack | ||
| Crew | 1 | ||
| First Flight | 11 February 1944 | ||
| Entered Service | |||
| Manufacturer | Consolidated-Vultee | ||
| Dimensions | |||
| Length | 48 ft 8 in | 14.83 m | |
| Wingspan | 54 ft 0 in | 16.46 m | |
| Height | 13 ft 11 in | 4.24 m | |
| Wing area | ft² | m² | |
| Weights | |||
| Empty | lb | kg | |
| Loaded | lb | kg | |
| Maximum takeoff | 24,188 lb | 10,971 kg | |
| Powerplant | |||
| Engines | 1 Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial | ||
| Power | 3000 hp | 2.24 MW | |
| Performance | |||
| Maximum speed | 363 mph | 584 km/h | |
| Combat range | 800 mi | 1290 km | |
| Ferry range | mi | km | |
| Service ceiling | 29,300 ft | 8,900 m | |
| Rate of climb | ft/min | m/min | |
| Wing loading | lb/ft² | kg/m² | |
| Power/Mass | hp/lb | kW/kg | |
| Avionics | |||
| Avionics | |||
| Armament | |||
| Guns | 4 wing-mounted .50 cal machine guns | ||
| Bombs | 6400 lb (2,900 kg) of ordinance | ||
| Missiles | |||
| Rockets | 8-12 | ||
| Other | |||
The Vultee XA-41 was originally ordered as a dive bomber, however the contract was later amended to change the role to low-level ground attack, after combat experience lead the Army Air Corps to believe that dive-bombers were too vulnerable to enemy fighters.
Fitted with a 3,000-horsepower (2,240 kW) Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial engine, only one of the two prototypes ordered was completed.
Flying for the first time on 11 February 1944, the XA-41 proved to have good performance, however with the reduction in military orders due to the approaching end of the war, no production contract was placed, and the aircraft was used as an engine test bed.
