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DOUGLAS XA-26 - First Prototype
XA-26http://aeroweb.brooklyn.cuny.edu/specs/douglas/xa-26.htm
Prototype twin engined attack bomber, glass nose.
Produced 1942
Douglas El Segundo, California (DE)


The Douglas XA-26 was designed as an improved and updated successor to the Douglas A-20 Havoc. The aircraft was based on the common light attack/medium bomber configuration: twin-engine, shoulder-mounted wings and tricycle landing gear. Douglas engineers began work on the preliminary design study in late 1940. The mockup was completed in the spring of 1941 and the initial Air Corps prototype construction contracts were signed in June 1941. The Army wanted two prototypes built: a light bomber/attack version designated XA-26, and a night fighter/attack version designated XA-26A.

The aircraft was built in about one year at Douglas' El Segundo, Calif., plant under contract number AC-17946. It made its first flight on July 10, 1942. The XA-26 was primarily intended to be a pre-production light bomber prototype and featured a clear nose similar to the A-20J and A-20K. The XA-26 could carry a maximum bomb load of 5,000 pounds (3,000 pounds internal and 2,000 pounds external) and carried a bombardier as part of its three man crew. The defensive armament of the XA-26 was relatively light -- only two forward-firing .50-cal. machine guns and two aft barbettes (dorsal and ventral) fired by the gunner using remote control and periscope sighting. The propellers had large spinners installed designed to improve streamlining; however, the engines suffered from overheating because the spinners restricted the cooling airflow to the engine.

The XA-26 test program was successful but proceeded slowly. The problem was compounded by a lack of production capability at Douglas plants. The Air Corps, although anxious to get the production A-26, was unwilling to disrupt current production of other Douglas aircraft; notably the A-20 and C-47. As a result, the first combat operations using A-26s were delayed until mid-1944. There was no production variant designated A-26, but the A-26C closely resembled the XA-26.

Type
No. Built / Conv'd Remarks

XA-26
1
Twin-eng light attack
bomber
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Armament: Designed for two forward-firing .50-cal. machine guns in the right forward fuselage, two .50-cal. machine guns in a dorsal turret and two .50-cal. machine guns in a ventral turret, plus provisions for 5,000 lbs. of bombs (3,000 lbs. carried internally in two bomb bays and 2,000 lbs. carried externally on wing racks)
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 radials of 2,000 hp each
Maximum speed: 370 mph
Cruising speed: 212 mph
Range: 2,500 miles maximum ferry range
Service ceiling: 31,300 ft.
Span: 70 ft. 0 in.
Length: 51 ft. 2 in.
Height: 18 ft. 6 in.
Weight: Approx. 31,000 lbs. gross takeoff weight
Crew: Three (pilot, navigator/bombardier, gunner)
Serial number: 41-19504

a26.jpg
 
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The aircraft was built in about one year and made its first flight on July 10, 1942. The XA-26 was primarily intended to be a pre-production light bomber prototype and featured a clear nose similar to the A-20J and A-20K. The XA-26 could carry a maximum bomb load of 5,000 pounds (3,000 pounds internal and 2,000 pounds external) and carried a bombardier as part of its three man crew. The defensive armament of the XA-26 was relatively light -- only two forward-firing .50-cal. machine guns and two aft barbettes (dorsal and ventral) fired by the gunner using remote control and periscope sighting. The propellers had large spinners installed designed to improve streamlining; however, the engines suffered from overheating because the spinners restricted the cooling airflow to the engine.
The XA-26 test program was successful but proceeded slowly. The problem was compounded by a lack of production capability at Douglas plants. The Air Corps, although anxious to get the production A-26, was unwilling to disrupt current production of other Douglas aircraft; notably the A-20 and C-47. As a result, the first combat operations using A-26s were delayed until mid-1944. There was no production variant designated A-26, but the A-26C closely resembled the XA-26.

Type
No. Built / Conv'd Remarks

XA-26 1
Twin-eng light attack
bomber
Prototype serial number: 41-19504
· Built at Douglas' El Segundo, Calif., plant under contract number AC-17946
· Accepted by the Army Air Force on Feb. 21, 1944 (Source: Individual Aircraft Record Card XA-26 S/N 41-19504)

SPECIFICATIONS:
Span: 70 ft. 0 in.
Length: 51 ft. 2 in.
Height: 18 ft. 6 in.
Weight: Approx. 31,000 lbs. gross take-off weight
Armament: Designed for two forward-firing .50-cal. machine guns in the right forward fuselage, two .50-cal. machine guns in a dorsal turret and two .50-cal. machine guns in a ventral turret plus provisions for 5,000 lbs. of bombs (3,000 lbs. carried internally in two bomb bays and 2,000 lbs. carried externally on wing racks)
Engines: Two
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 radials of 2,000 hp each
Crew: Three (pilot, navigator/bombardier, gunner)

PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed: 370 mph
Cruising speed: 212 mph
Range: 2500 miles maximum ferry range
Service ceiling: 31,300 ft.
 
Prototypes - MILITARY
The Army Air Corps contract (AC-17946) was initially signed in early June 1941 and included provisions for two prototype aircraft. The first, designated XA-26, was for a light attack bomber. The second, designated XA-26A, was for a night attack fighter. In late June 1941, the Air Corps amended the contract to include a third aircraft, designated XA-26B, to be designed as a low altitude attack aircraft. The XA-26B had the same basic design as the XA-26, however, the clear glass bombardier's nose was replaced by a solid nose to house a 75mm cannon.
The testing program for the XA-26B was successful, and the Army ordered the aircraft into production; however, the 75mm cannon had a slow firing rate and was prone to jamming, so various alternate armament configurations were considered. Several combinations of 75mm or 37mm cannons and .50-cal. machine guns were tried. Armament testing continued even after the production of A-26Bs had started. Eventually, the aircraft nose armament was decided upon and early block A-26Bs had six .50-cal. machine guns in the nose while later block -B models had eight .50-cal. machine guns in the nose. The XA-26B had the same large propeller spinners as the XA-26 and XA-26A. It also had the same cooling problems as the other aircraft and the spinners were deleted on production A-26Bs.

Type
No. Built . Conv'd
Remarks

XA-26B1
Attack prototype
Notes:
Prototype serial number: 41-19588
· Built at Douglas' El Segundo, Calif., plant under contract number AC-17946
· Accepted by the Army Air Force on June 30, 1943 (Source: Individual Aircraft Record Card XA-26B S/N 41-19588)

SPECIFICATIONS:
Span:
70 ft. 0 in.
Length: 50 ft. 0 in.
Height: 18 ft. 6 in.
Weight: Approx. 35,000 lbs. gross take off weight
Armament: Two .50-cal. machine guns in a dorsal barbette, two .50-cal. machine guns in a ventral barbette and one forward firing 75mm cannon plus provisions for 6,000 lbs. of bombs (4,000 lbs. internal and 2,000 lbs. external on wing racks)
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 radials of 2,000 hp each
Crew: Three (pilot, navigator/cannon loader, gunner)
douglasa-26b.jpg
a-26 +.jpg
PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed:
Approx. 350 mph
Cruising speed: Approx. 280 mph
Range: 3,200 miles maximum ferry range
 
DOUGLAS XA-26D
he Douglas XA-26D was designed as an improved version of the A-26B. The D model was a solid nose version primarily intended for use in the ground attack role. The aircraft was equipped with 14 forward-firing .50-cal. machine guns -- eight in the nose (two vertical rows of four guns) and six more in the wings. The engines were upgraded to a more powerful version of the Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine also. The top speed of the XA-26D was slightly more than 400 mph.

A contract for 750 production A-26Ds was cancelled at the end of World War II.

At least one A-26B was upgraded to XA-26D design specifications; however, there may have been two (or more) aircraft converted. Most sources list the serial number of the XA-26D as 44-34776; however, the aircraft data card for this aircraft makes no reference to a conversion program. Another B-26B (S/N 44-34100) does have an upgrade history to A-26D standards and the museum has (poor quality) copies of photos with A-26D listed as the aircraft type. It appears that both aircraft were held at the Douglas plant for use in test programs. S/N 44-34100 was accepted on Jan. 31, 1945, but not available until Oct. 31, 1945. The individual aircraft record card has a notation indicating the aircraft was to remain at the contractor's plant for 180 days. The first record entry listing the aircraft as an A-26D was on Nov. 11, 1945. The other aircraft (S/N 44-34776) was available on Aug. 14, 1945, but not acceptable until March 15, 1946. There is no record of the aircraft ever being converted to A-26D specs.

Type
No. Built / Conv'd
Remarks

XB-26D
1
Improved B-26B

Prototype serial number: 44-34100 (B-26B-45-DL) or 44-34776 (B-26B-71-DL)
SPECIFICATIONS:
Span:
70 ft.
Length: 50 ft. 9 in.
Height: 18 ft. 6 in.
Weight: 38,000 lbs. loaded
Armament: 18 .50-cal. machine guns (8 nose, 6 wing, 2 each in dorsal and ventral barbettes) plus 4,000 lbs. of bombs (internal)
Engines: Two Pratt & Whitney R-2800-83 radial engines of 2,100 hp each
PERFORMANCE:
Maximum speed:
403 mph
Cruising speed: 310 mph
Range: 1,500 miles (4,500 miles with bomb bay auxiliary fuel tank)
Service ceiling: 31,000 ft.

Prototypes - MILITARY
Douglas XA-26D and XA-26E Invaders
douglas-xa-26d-4.jpg
douglas-xa-26d-41.jpg
 
General Electric J31 and the XA-26F
Specifications GE-J31
General characteristics
  • Type: Turbojet
  • Length:
  • Diameter:
  • Dry weight: 850 lb (386 kg)
ComponentsCompressor: Single stage centrifugal
Turbine: Single stage

PerformanceThrust: 1,650 lbf (7.33 kN)
  • Power-to-weight ratio:
Round the world, distance and record breaking flights
erial #: 44-34586
Construction #: 27865
Civil Registration:
N66368
Model(s):
A-26B
XB-26F
Name: None
Status: Unknown
History:
Lindsay Hopkins Vocational School, Miami Airport, FL, 1964-1972.
- Registered as N66368
Built as DOUGLAS XA-26F - Prototype for a high-speed version of the Invader
Started out as an A-26B but modified in late 1945 as XA-26F with J31 turbojet aft of bomb bay.
During the years 1950 and 1951 flew for Shell Oil Co. on a bailment contract for the USAF doing fuel research.
a26f-.jpg
a-26f.jpg
a-26f-.jpg


Donated to Lindsay Hopkins Vocational

School in the 1950s, and was on the civil registry at least

1964-1969 as N66368. used for ground instruction at the George T. Baker aviation school in Miami Airport and reportedly scrapped in 1972.


On June 1946, the XA-26F covered a 621-mile (1000 kilometer) course with a 1000 kilogram load at an average air speed of 413 mph. The aircraft was being flown by Lt. Col. T.P. Gerrity and Capt. W.K. Rickert (Pictured above) With all three engines operating, the XA-26F reached a top speed of 435 mph at 15,000 feet."
Records set by the XA-26F
Speed over 1000 km with 1000 kg payload : 660.53 km/h
Date of flight: 20/06/1946
Pilot: T. P. GERRITY (USA)
Crew: W.K. Rickert
Course/place: Dayton, OH (USA)
Aircraft:
Douglas XA-26F (Wright R-2800-83 and GE-1-16, 2000 hp/1600 lbs)

Sub-class : C (Aviation with engine)
Without refuelling in flight
Speed over 1000 km with 1000 kg payload : 660.53 km/h

Date of flight: 20/06/1946
Pilot: T. P. GERRITY (USA)
Crew: W.K. Rickert
Course/place: Dayton, OH (USA)
Aircraft:
Douglas XA-26F (Wright R-2800-83 and GE-1-16, 2000 hp/1600 lbs
)




a26f+.jpg
 
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