Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Not really, it had dive brakes (the only Mark to have them,) but they caused problems, and some, reportedly, were wired shut.Since it had no bomb sight I think the A-36 was a dive bomber in name only, l.
Since it had no bomb sight I think the A-36 was a dive bomber in name only, to trick Congress into funding an additional fighter aircraft type. Rather like calling the F-18E a modified F-18D rather then admitting it to be an entirely new aircraft model.
IIRC it carried the whole load under its wings so there was no need for swing racks (and a limitation to 500lbs-bombs).i always wondered why there was a dive bomber variant of the p-51. i didnt know that the a-36 didnt have bomb sights. so youre saying that the a-36 was simply a p-51 with bomb racks(i dont know if it had swing racks like the stukas and vals), which was nothing more different than the later fighter-bomber versions of the p-51? I know the IAR 80 was another fighter with a dive-bomber variant, with purpose made bomb racks over the centerline for swinging the bombs out of the propellers way. but i dont know if it (IAR 81 i believe is the original name of the IAR 80 dive-bomber) had bomb-sights.
Wasn't the A-36 conceived to keep production rate of Mustang airframes up? Anyways it was a fighter airframe adapted to dive-bomber use with good success. My impression is that it's basically a fighter bomber with airbrakes. It has relatively poor top speed for its period which doesn't surprise me given the added weight and drag. So yeah, definetly vulnerable against e.g. a FW 190 A-5.
Hurricanes were incapable of carrying bombs until, at the earliest, November 1941, probably even later, since trials went on into May, 1942.
According to this site top speed is about 580 km/h at ~6100m.Could you add some numbers to back up the claim?
According to the 'Vee's for victory', it was able to fly 360+ mph, from sea level to 14000 ft ( >576 km/h up until 4340m) - the engine was tuned for low level work. So from deck to 3500m it was faster than a contemporary Fw-190.
Thanks for the table, Vicenzo.
The 345 mph at sea level is with MIL rating (1325 HP), 1500 HP was available there with WER (up to 5400 ft), hence the 366 mph at S.L. as stated in the book.
According to the 'Vee's for victory', it was able to fly 360+ mph, from sea level to 14000 ft ( >576 km/h up until 4340m) - the engine was tuned for low level work. So from deck to 3500m it was faster than a contemporary Fw-190.
after years on forums and see many primary sources (digital version off course) i've ever doubt on books
21 mph to up i think i bit too many