Curtiss YA-10 Shrike

YA-10 Shrike
Role	Ground attack
Manufacturer	Curtiss
First flight	1932
Introduction	1933
Retired	1939
Status	Out of service
Primary users	United States Army Air Corps United States Navy
Number built	2
Developed from	A-8 Shrike
Variants	A-12 Shrike

The Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company Model 59B YA-10 was a 1930s United States test and development version of the A-8 Shrike ground-attack aircraft using various radial engines in place of the inline Vee.

Development

The Curtiss YA-10 Shrike was the first YA-8 fitted with a Pratt & Whitney R-1690-9 (R-1690D) Hornet radial engine. The conversion was done in September 1932, and it was found that the aircraft's performance was not degraded by the change of engine, and low-level maneuverability was improved due to lower mass moment of inertia with the short radial engine. The USAAC preferred radials to inline engines for the ground attack role, due to the vulnerability of the latter's cooling system to anti-aircraft fire. The US Navy preferred radials for carrier-borne operations.^[1] Upon completion of testing the Army changed an order for 46 A-8B aircraft to the production version of the YA-10, the A-12 Shrike.

Operational history

Following completion of testing, the YA-10 was assigned to the 3rd Attack Group for operational service, then in 1934 it was assigned to the Command and General Staff School. The YA-10 was scrapped in early 1939.

The XS2C-1 was the Navy's first two-seat warplane. Since it was not equipped for carrier operations, it remained a prototype.^[1]

Variants

YA-10

Model 59B, one U.S. Army Air Corps prototype

XS2C-1

Model 69, one U.S. Navy prototype with a 625 hp (466 kW) Wright R-1510-28 Whirlwind engine, delivered December 1932^[2]

Operators

 United States

• United States Army Air Corps

Specifications (XA-10)

General characteristics

• Crew: 2, pilot & observer-rear gunner
• Length: 32.5 ft (9.9 m)
• Wingspan: 44.25 ft (13.5 m)
• Height: 9.0 ft (2.75 m)
• Max takeoff weight: 6,135 lb (2,783 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1690-9 (R-1690D) "Hornet" radial, 630 hp (470 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 174 mph (280 km/h)
• Cruise speed: 148 mph (238 km/h)
• Range: 500 mi (800 km)
• Service ceiling: ~15,000 ft (~4,570 m)

Armament

• Guns

• 4 × forward .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns
• 1 × rear .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun

• Bombs

• 4 × 122 lb (55 kg) bombs mounted on wing racks

See also

• Curtiss-Wright Corporation (1929 - )
  

Related development

• Curtiss A-8
  

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era

• Hawker Osprey
  

Related lists

• List of military aircraft of the United States
  

References

1. ^ ^{a b} "The Illustrated Encyclopedia of the 20th Century Weapons and Warfare" Editor: Bernard Fitzsimons (Purnell & Sons Ltd., ISBN 0839361750) 1967/1969, Vol. 21
2. ^ "The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft" cover Editors: Paul Eden & Soph Moeng, (Amber Books Ltd. Bradley's Close, 74-77 White Lion Street, London, NI 9PF, 2002, ISBN 0-7607-3432-1), 1152 pp.

External links