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    Douglas XT3D

    From Wikipedia - Reading time: 6 min
    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

    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]

    Development

    [edit]
    The XT3D-1 with one wing folded.

    The XT3D torpedo bomber (BuNo 8730) first flew in 1931.[1] 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, center for the pilot, rear for another gunner.[1]

    The XT3D failed to meet the United States 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 U.S. Navy trials and was not ordered into production.[1] 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.[1]

    Variants

    [edit]
    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

    [edit]
     United States
    • United States Navy

    Specifications

    [edit]

    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

    [edit]

    Related lists

    • List of United States Navy aircraft designations (pre-1962)

    References

    [edit]
    Wikimedia Commons has media related to Douglas T3D.
    Notes
    1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Orbis 1985, p. 1578
    2. ^ a b 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.
    This article is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
    Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas XT3D
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