Page 27 - May24

» The XA-38 was the largest Beechcraft built up to that time and could carry a powerful punch of offensive weapons and ordnance. Demand for its two Wright R-3350 radial engines for the Boeing B-29 heavy bomber program was a major reason the program was canceled in 1945. Only two airplanes were built. Unfortunately, neither survived for future genera- tions to admire. (Edward H. Phillips Collection, courtesy Beechcraft Corporation, Special Collections and University Archives, Wichita State University Libraries)
In addition to its formidable weaponry, the XA-38 was capable of speeds up to 375 mph at a gross takeoff weight of 32,000 pounds (it may surprise King Air owners/operators to know that the Grizzly remained the largest and heaviest airplane designed and built by the Beech Aircraft Corporation). When it first flew in 1944, Beechcraft’s “flying cannon” clearly outclassed every other ground attack aircraft in the world. Its speed, firepower and load carrying abilities were unmatched. If the airplane had been developed a few years earlier, it would have played an important role in the U.S. Navy’s island-hopping campaigns across the Central Pacific.
Designing the XA-38 was no easy task for company engineers. They had to create an airplane that could deliver a devastating offensive punch, absorb damage, be reasonably maneuverable for its size, and possess a passive defensive system that was effective against attacking fighters. One fact was inescapable – speed and structural integrity were high on the list of design imperatives. No effort would be spared to reduce drag and build a lightweight, but strong, aluminum alloy airframe. The decision was made to use flush riveting and butt-join all exterior surfaces wherever possible.
As the design process progressed during 1943, the Army exchanged the name Grizzly for Destroyer. After the first prototype was completed and tested on the ground, veteran company test pilot Vern Carstens took the big Beechcraft aloft for the first time May 7, 1944. An employee who witnessed the event remembered that when Carstens attempted to land the Destroyer after a successful flight, he flared about 10 feet above the runway and the airplane stalled. It hit the pavement with a resounding “thud” and bounced back into the air. Instinctively, Carstens gunned the two 18-cylinder Wright radial engines and went around the field for another approach. Vern skillfully rolled the XA-38 onto the runway.
At the heart of Beechcraft’s gunship was a Type T15E1, 75-mm cannon fitted with a Type T-13 feed mechanism. Mounted in the nose section, the weapon featured a
6 26 18
MAY 2024
KING AIR MAGAZINE • 25