41-19505
| XA-26A Invader | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 | |||
| Builders: Douglas Aircraft Company | |||
| Operators: United States Air Force | |||
| Ordered 1941 | |||
| Number Built: 1 | |||
| First Built: 1942 | |||
| GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS | |||
| Type: Light Attack Bomber | |||
| Dry Weight: - | |||
| Wet Weight: - | |||
| Length: 51' 3" (15.24 m) | |||
| Height: 18' 6" (5.64 m) | |||
| Wingspan: 70' (21.34 m) | |||
| Wing Area: 540 Sq. Feet (50.17 m²) | |||
| Speed: - | |||
| Max Speed: - | |||
| Ceiling: 22,100 feet (6,700 m) | |||
| Powerplant: 2x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-27 | |||
| Horsepower: 2,000 | |||
| Fuel Capacity: - | |||
| Range: - | |||
| Crew: 2 | |||
| Passengers: 1 | |||
| ARMAMENT | |||
| Nose Guns: None | |||
| Dorsal Turret: 2x .50 Machine Guns | |||
| Ventral Turret: 2x .50 Machine Guns | |||
| Payload: 6,000 lbs | |||
This plane was the second working A-26 Prototype to be fully operational. In July of 1941 Douglas built a full-sized mock-up of the plane with dummy weapons to pitch to the Air Force. That initial display culminated in a contract for two operational prototypes - this plane, and 41-19504 (The XA-26). Later, the Air Force added a third prototype, the XA-26B (41-19588).
This plane was constructed with a solid nose in the 6-gun configuration.
There is less information on this particular plane than there is on the XA-26.
This plane served as the prototype for what would become the B model Invader - those equipped with hard noses and heavy machine gun armament. One observable difference between the prototype models and the production models was the "propeller spinner" - the cone-shaped piece in the middle of the propeller blades. The prototype units were equipped with this feature, but none of the production models had them.
Images
Luckily, being a prototype model, there are some images of this plane.
The XA-26 Prototype during takeoff, 10 JUL 1942.
The XA-26 Protoype in flight.