Douglas XT3D

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

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

Development

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

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

Variants

XT3D-1: Prototype powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 radial, one built.
XT3D-2: Prototype modified including a change to a Pratt & Whitney R-1830 radial.

Operators

United States

United States Navy

Specifications

Data from

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

References

Notes

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Orbis 1985, p. 1578
1 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.

[orbis-1] 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Orbis 1985, p. 1578

[anrade-2] 1 2 Andrade 1979, p. 224

v t e Douglas military aircraft
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Ground attack	XA-2 A-20 A-24 A-26 Invader A-33 A-1 Skyraider A-3 Skywarrior A-4 Skyhawk/A-4AR Fightinghawk/A-4SU Super Skyhawk AC-47 "Spooky" DT T2D XT3D TBD Devastator SBD Dauntless BD XBTD Destroyer XTB2D Skypirate AD Skyraider XA2D Skyshark A3D Skywarrior A4D Skyhawk
Bombers	YB-7 YB-11 B-18 Bolo XB-19 XB-22 B-23 Dragon B-26 Invader XB-31 XB-42 Mixmaster XB-43 Jetmaster B-66 Destroyer Model 423 Model 1211-J DB-1 DB-2 DB-7 DB-8 DB-19 DB-73 Boston I/II/III/IV/V Digby I Havoc I/II DXD1
Observation	O-2 OD O2D O-31 O-35 O-38 O-43 YO-44 O-46 O-53 YOA-5
Patrol	PD P2D P3D
Reconnaissance	F-3
Transports	C-1 C-21 C-32 C-33 YC-34 C-38 C-39 C-41 C-41A C-42 C-47 Skytrain (Dakota I/III/IV) C-48 C-49 C-50 C-51 C-52 C-53 Skytrooper C-54 Skymaster C-58 UC-67 C-68 C-74 Globemaster C-84 C-110 XC-112/YC-112 XC-114 YC-116 C-117 C-117D C-118 C-124 Globemaster II YC-129 C-132 C-133 Cargomaster C-9 (Nightingale/Skytrain II) C-24 RD R2D R3D R4D-1/-3/-5/-6/-7 R4D-8 R5D JD R6D CC-129 LXD1 PD.808 Skymaster I
Gliders	XCG-17
Training aircraft	BT-1 BT-2 XT-30
Experimental	World Cruiser D-558-1 Skystreak D-558-2 Skyrocket X-3 Stiletto