Douglas XT3D

The Douglas XT3D was an American three-seat torpedo bomber biplane developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company to meet a United States Navy requirement.[1]

Douglas XT3D
Douglas XT3D-1
Role Three-seat torpedo bomber
National origin United States
Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company
First flight 1931
Retired 1941
Primary user United States Navy
Number built 1

Development
The XT3D-1 with one wing folded.

The XT3D torpedo bomber (BuNo 8730) was first flown in 1931, it has been described as a large and ugly aircraft.[1] Of metal construction with a fabric covering the XT3D had folding wings and an arrestor hook for carrier operation.[1] With a fixed tailwheel landing gear and powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial engine,[1] the XT3D had three open cockpits, forward for the gunner/bomb-aimer, centre for the pilot, rear for another gunner.[1]

The XT3D failed to meet the Navy's requirements and after tests was returned to Douglas.[1] It was modified with a more powerful Pratt & Whitney XR-1830-54 radial, and wheel fairings and the two rear cockpits were enclosed.[1] Re-designated XT3D-2, it still failed to pass Navy trials and was not ordered into production.[1] The prototype was used by the Navy for the next ten years for general purpose use until it was relegated as an instructional airframe in 1941.[1]

Variants
The XT3D-2 in January 1933.
XT3D-1
Prototype powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 radial, one built.[1][2]
XT3D-2
Prototype modified including a change to a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial.[1][2]

Operators
 United States

Specifications

Data from [1]

General characteristics

  • Crew: 3 (pilot, bomb-aimer/gunner, gunner)
  • Length: 35 ft 5 in (10.80 m)
  • Wingspan: 50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
  • Height: 13 ft 2.5 in (4.026 m)
  • Wing area: 624 sq ft (58.0 m2)
  • Empty weight: 4,238 lb (1,922 kg)
  • Max takeoff weight: 7,857 lb (3,564 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet radial piston engine, 575 hp (429 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 128 mph (206 km/h, 111 kn) at 6000ft (1830m)
  • Range: 555 mi (893 km, 482 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 14,000 ft (4,300 m)

Armament

  • Guns: 2 × 0.3in (7.62mm) machine-gun (flexible mounted on forward and rear cockpits)
  • Bombs: 1835lb (832kg) torpedo or equivalent in bombs

See also

Related lists

References
Notes
  1. Orbis 1985, p. 1578
  2. Andrade 1979, p. 224
Bibliography
  • Andrade, John (1979). U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
  • The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985). Orbis Publishing.
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