A few 'lesser known' aircraft companies ,,,

[airnutz]

Marvelous photos as always, Mark.
But the A-20 assembly pictures bring up a question. Just how did the bombardier/navigator enter and exit the nose compartment? There's no obvious door, and the aircraft's fuselage is too narrow to get into the nose from the pilot's cockpit. Just one of those things that makes you wonder...

Mark, the bombardier entry hatch was on the belly just in front of his seat in front of the nose wheel, in case of belly landing he exited out a pop-off panel above his head, not to be used in flight.

[Larry Kraus]

These pictures show the entrance door for the bomb/nav even though the first one has a solid gun nose and the second has been modified as a strafer.

IMG_2474 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_2480 by tanker622001, on Flickr

Last edited by Larry Kraus on Fri Apr 14, 2023 9:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Larry Kraus]

This is from the A-20A Flight Manual showing escape hatches

IMG_6055 by tanker622001, on Flickr

These pictures from the A-20 Erection & Maintenance Manual show the interior of the Bombardier/ Navigator’s compartment

IMG_6053 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_6054 by tanker622001, on Flickr

[Mark Sampson]

Thanks everyone- that's great information. I wonder if any of the A-20s that survive have the bomber nose?
The two I have seen, one at Geneseo maybe 15 years back, and the one at Pima now, (could they be the same airframe?) have the multi-gun nose setup.

[Larry Kraus]

Mark, for comparison with the glass nosed A-20, here are a few pages from the A-26B and C Flight Manual showing the Bombardier/ Navigator’s station and floor hatch

IMG_6064 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_6072 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_6070 by tanker622001, on Flickr

IMG_6071 by tanker622001, on Flickr

[Chris Brame]

Thanks everyone- that's great information. I wonder if any of the A-20s that survive have the bomber nose?

A-20K 44-539 does:

Probably also A-20/YF-3 39-745, recovered from St. Charles, QC some years ago.

[Duggy009]