Northrop A-13, A-16, A-17, A-33

1934

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Northrop A-13, A-16, A-17, A-33

Northrop used the Gamma transport as the basis of a private-venture design for a light attack bomber, identifying this as the Northrop Gamma 2C which, powered by a 548kW Wright SR-1820F radial engine, was acquired for evaluation by the US Army Air Corps in June 1934 under the designation YA-13. Subsequently re-engined with a 708kW Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp, this aircraft was redesignated XA-16 (Northrop Gamma 2F). Following tests of the YA-13 and XA-16, Northrop received $2 million contract for 110 attack bombers designated A-17, but because testing of the XA-16 had shown that the aircraft was over-powered, the Gamma 2.F was re-engined with a 559kW Pratt & Whitney R-1535 Twin Wasp Junior, serving as the prototype for the A-17. Following the incorporation of several other modifications, the first of 109 production A-17 aircraft was delivered in December 1935. A contract was received in the same month for an improved A-17A, introducing retractable tailwheel landing gear and the 615kW Pratt & Whitney R-1535-13 engine. Some 129 were built, initially by Northrop, but in 1937 Douglas acquired the remaining 49% of Northrop Corporation's stock, and it was the Douglas Company which completed production of these aircraft. Of the total, 93 served with the USAAC for only 18 months, then being returned to Douglas for sale to the UK and France. The Royal Air Force received 60, designating them Nomad Mk I, and all were transferred to the South African Air Force. Douglas also built this aircraft for export under the designation Douglas Model 8A, supplying them to Argentina, Iraq, the Netherlands and Norway. A batch of 34 Model 8A-5 aircraft was also built for Peru, 31 of them being commandeered by the US Army Air Force in early 1942 for use in an attack role. Armed with six 7.62mm machine-guns and able to carry up to 816kg of bombs, all were used in a training role under the designation A-33.

A-17A

Specification 
 MODELA-17A
 ENGINE1 x Pratt & Whitney R-1535-13 radial piston engine, 615kW
 WEIGHTS
  Take-off weight3421 kg7542 lb
  Empty weight2316 kg5106 lb
 DIMENSIONS
  Wingspan14.55 m48 ft 9 in
  Length9.65 m32 ft 8 in
  Height3.66 m12 ft 0 in
  Wing area33.63 m2361.99 sq ft
 PERFORMANCE
  Max. speed354 km/h220 mph
  Ceiling5915 m19400 ft
  Range1175 km730 miles
 ARMAMENT5 x 7.62mm machine-guns, 4 x 45kg bombs

Comments
Klaatu83, e-mail, 31.08.2014 18:31

The aircraft used in that film was Northrop BT-1, a Navy carrier-based dive-bomber. Although also designed and built by Jack Northrop, and bore a family resemblance to the A-17A, the BT-1 was an entirely different design.


"I have a question. Was this the airplane that was used in the movie "Dive Bomber" starring Erroll Flynn and Fred MacMurry?"

reply

gooda, 20.06.2011 14:14

Any comment or knowledge of this flight factor would be appreciated.

reply

Don Paul, e-mail, 27.04.2011 21:37

I have a question. Was this the airplane that was used in the movie "Dive Bomber" starring Erroll Flynn and Fred MacMurry?

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Ken Robertson, e-mail, 23.09.2010 02:49

What all was this aircraft called? "Nomad" "Nose Blower" what else?

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MOHAMED, e-mail, 27.09.2008 06:55

please i need more informatios about- it

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John Bowlby, e-mail, 09.05.2008 07:18

I am involved with a project that is investigating a mid-air collision between 2 A-17As in 1940. As such, I am looking for information on the glide ratio for the A-17A. Any comment or knowledge of this flight factor would be appreciated.

reply

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