The Curtiss A14 Shrike looks superficially to be very advanced for its time. Could it have been up-engined into a "heavy fighter" of the type in vogue in the late '30s? Obviously such aircraft had their limitations and the Shrike's small dimensions meant that it was not as versatile as something as the later Beau or even the 110, but that slippery all-metal shape seems to have had potential with more grunt. Thoughts?
Upgrading the Curtiss A14 Shrike
- Thread starter Onslow
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Shortround6
Major General
Nope.............................
It was not as small as it appears. It's wing span was a bit longer than a Beaufighter and the wing area was a bit bigger (and it was about 25% bigger than the 110).
Being an early/mid 1930s design it was of light weight construction. While it is described as being "all metal" that means there was no structural wood. Covering material was often not included. The A-14 and A-18 (different engines) used fabric covering on the wings from the main spar back.
With a wing over twice the size it was only a few hundred pounds heavier than the later Westland Whirlwind empty.
It might have been possible to develop it but it would mean a new stronger/heavier structure that just looked the Shrike and probably a new wing (smaller in addition to being stronger.) The Shrike's wing was 14% bigger in area than the wing on an A-20.
It was just a little too early.
It was not as small as it appears. It's wing span was a bit longer than a Beaufighter and the wing area was a bit bigger (and it was about 25% bigger than the 110).
Being an early/mid 1930s design it was of light weight construction. While it is described as being "all metal" that means there was no structural wood. Covering material was often not included. The A-14 and A-18 (different engines) used fabric covering on the wings from the main spar back.
With a wing over twice the size it was only a few hundred pounds heavier than the later Westland Whirlwind empty.
It might have been possible to develop it but it would mean a new stronger/heavier structure that just looked the Shrike and probably a new wing (smaller in addition to being stronger.) The Shrike's wing was 14% bigger in area than the wing on an A-20.
It was just a little too early.
- Thread starter
- #3
Good information, thanks. I meant, and should have said, that the fuselage's dimensions seemed to small to allow it to become a nightfighter or heavier attack aircraft. I didn't realise the structure was that light - it's a very hard aircraft to find information about. Cheers
I always wondered the same...
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Curtiss did improve on the A-14 with the A-18, but not much became of it.
Shortround6
Major General
Basically all Curtiss did was change the engines from the 14 cylinder R-1670s to the 9 cylinder R-1820s.
The R-1670 engine went nowhere. The larger diameter R-1820s in 1937 were good for 930hp take-off, the 1000-1100hp versions were several years away.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Slap some Hinomarus on it. I think it's a twin of the IJN/IJA twins. Beautiful lines.
