Vahe Demirjian
Banned
Everyone on this forum is familiar with the Convair XA-44/XB-53 FSW attack aircraft design. However, it is interesting to note that the XA-44 originally was designed with a 12 degree forward swept wing and a solid nose section, but when it was redesignated XB-53 after the USAAF in 1946 dropped the A-for-Attack category and reclassified all attack aircraft as bombers (never mind that the A-24 variant of the SBD Dauntless for the USAAF was redesignated F-24 instead of B-24 to avoid confusion with B-24s still in service in 1946), the design was revamped with a 30 degree forward swept wing and a glazed nose section with gun turrets behind the cockpit. Two prototypes were ordered, but the XB-53 never left the hardware phase.
Convair XA-44 design superimposed over skies in photo montage, 1945 (note that nose section is solid)
XB-53 design with glazed nose section and increased forward wing sweep, 1946
XB-53 design with glazed nose section and increased forward wing sweep, 1946
