Boeing XAT-15
Sat Aug 10, 2019 10:10 pm
The Boeing AT-15 was an American twin-engined bomber crew trainer designed and built by Boeing's Wichita Division. Only two prototypes, designated XAT-15, were built. Plans to build over 1,000 were cancelled on the United States' entry into the Second World War.
One of the first projects for the former Stearman Aircraft Company which in 1939 had become the Wichita Division of Boeing was a twin-engined trainer for bomber crews. Designated X-120 by the company, two examples were ordered by the United States Army Air Corps as the XAT-15. The AT-15 was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engines. It had a retractable tailwheel landing gear and an extended glazed fuselage nose for the trainee bomb-aimer. Due to shortage of materials, the aircraft was built of welded steel tube covered with plywood, with wooden wings and tail unit. The two aircraft were delivered to the USAAC, but after the country's entry into the war a change in priorities resulted in the planned order for more than 1,000 aircraft not being placed.
Specifications (XAT-15)
General characteristics
Length: 42 ft 4 in (12.90 m)
Wingspan: 59 ft 8 in (18.19 m)
Wing area: 457 ft2 (42.46 m2)
Empty weight: 10,640 lb (4826 kg)
Gross weight: 14,355 lb (6511 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial piston engine, 600 hp (447 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h)
Range: 850 miles (1368 km)
Service ceiling: 18,900 ft (5760 m)
Armament
4 x 0.3in (7.62mm) machine-gun
10 x 100lb (45kg) bomb
More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_XAT-15
One of the first projects for the former Stearman Aircraft Company which in 1939 had become the Wichita Division of Boeing was a twin-engined trainer for bomber crews. Designated X-120 by the company, two examples were ordered by the United States Army Air Corps as the XAT-15. The AT-15 was a high-wing cantilever monoplane with two wing-mounted Pratt & Whitney R-1340 Wasp radial engines. It had a retractable tailwheel landing gear and an extended glazed fuselage nose for the trainee bomb-aimer. Due to shortage of materials, the aircraft was built of welded steel tube covered with plywood, with wooden wings and tail unit. The two aircraft were delivered to the USAAC, but after the country's entry into the war a change in priorities resulted in the planned order for more than 1,000 aircraft not being placed.
Specifications (XAT-15)
General characteristics
Length: 42 ft 4 in (12.90 m)
Wingspan: 59 ft 8 in (18.19 m)
Wing area: 457 ft2 (42.46 m2)
Empty weight: 10,640 lb (4826 kg)
Gross weight: 14,355 lb (6511 kg)
Powerplant: 2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1340-AN-1 Wasp radial piston engine, 600 hp (447 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 207 mph (333 km/h)
Range: 850 miles (1368 km)
Service ceiling: 18,900 ft (5760 m)
Armament
4 x 0.3in (7.62mm) machine-gun
10 x 100lb (45kg) bomb
More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_XAT-15
Re: Boeing XAT-15
Sun Aug 11, 2019 12:33 am
Copilot's side had to be horrendously noisy with the engine exhaust being dumped right at his waist, coupled with fabric fuselage covering in that area too. Interesting to note that there was some forethought into some of the design for maintainability. Notice that the QEC's appear to be identical, so you would only have to build up a single layout. Wouldn't matter then, as everything would be the same on either side installation.
Re: Boeing XAT-15
Sun Aug 11, 2019 4:27 am
First I've seen of this one. Was it in competition with the Beech AT-10 and Fairchild AT-21 and lost out? I bet if it had succeeded, Boeing would have had to farm out production to someone else to concentrate on building B-17s.
Re: Boeing XAT-15
Mon Aug 12, 2019 11:02 pm
Somehow it reminds me of a Divco milk delivery truck...