Curtiss A-8

The Curtiss A-8 was a low-wing monoplane ground-attack aircraft built by the United States company Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company, designed in response to a 1929 United States Army Air Corps requirement for an attack aircraft to replace the A-3 Falcon. The Model 59 "Shrike" was designated XA-8.Template:Efn

Development

The XA-8 won a competition against the General Aviation/Fokker XA-7, after which 13 service test aircraft were ordered (five as YA-8s and eight as Y1A-8s). After the completion of testing, 11 of these aircraft were redesignated A-8.

The A-8 was the first Curtiss machine of all-metal low-wing monoplane configuration with advanced features such as automatic leading edge slats and trailing-edge flaps.<ref name="world">Template:Cite book</ref>

Four forward-firing Template:Cvt machine guns were mounted in the wheel fairings, and an additional weapon of the same calibre was fitted in the observer's cockpit for rear defense. The standard bomb load was four Template:Cvt bombs.<ref name="ohnine">Template:Cite book</ref>

One YA-8 was fitted with a radial engine and designated YA-10, while another was used for testing of the Curtiss V-1570 Conqueror engine as the Y1A-8A. This aircraft was redesignated A-8 upon the completion of testing.

46 aircraft were ordered as A-8Bs, however the order was changed to the Model 60 A-12s before production began.

Operational history

The A-8 created a sensation in US aviation circles when it went into service with the 3rd Attack Group at Fort Crockett, Texas in April 1932. All other standard aircraft were of biplane configuration, and the first monoplane fighter (the Boeing P-26A) did not become operational until eight months later.<ref name="world"/>

Variants

XA-8

Model 59, one prototype, (30-387), length Template:Cvt, wingspan Template:Cvt, gross weight Template:Cvt Curtiss V-1570-23 direct drive engine<ref name="fahey">Template:Cite book</ref>

File:EL-2003-00274.jpg

Curtiss YA-8 Shrike

YA-8

Model 59A, service test aircraft, 5 built, (32-344 to 32-348), gross weight Template:Cvt,<ref name="fahey"/> one was reworked as the YA-10 prototype with the Template:Cvt Pratt & Whitney Hornet radial engine<ref name="world"/>

Y1A-8

service test aircraft, 8 built, (32-349 to 32-356) gross weight Template:Cvt<ref name="fahey"/>

A-8

12 redesignated YA-8 and Y1A-8 aircraft<ref name="fahey"/>

Y1A-8A

last Y1A-8 with Curtiss V-1570-57 geared engine, length Template:Cvt, gross weight Template:Cvt<ref name="fahey"/>

A-8A

redesignated Y1A-8A aircraft<ref name="fahey"/>

A-8B

cancelled, replaced by A-12 Shrike<ref name="fahey"/>

Operators

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• United States Army Air Corps