Douglas A-33

Model 8A-5/A-33
Northrop A-17/Douglas A-33
Role	Ground-attack fighter
Manufacturer	Douglas Aircraft Company
Introduction	1941
Primary user	US Army Air Corps
Variants	Northrop A-17

The Douglas A-33 (Model 8A-5) was an updated version of the Northrop A-17 for the export market, with a more powerful engine and increased bomb load.

Design and development

In 1932, the Northrop Corporation had been formed as a partly owned subsidiary of Douglas and by 1937, the Northrop Model 8 became known as the Douglas 8A produced in the El Segundo Division of Douglas aircraft.

The 8A-5 was powered by a 1,200 hp Wright R-1820-87 engine and was the most powerful and best armed of the series, fitted with four wing mounted 0.30 in machine guns, two 0.50 in machine guns in pods below the wing and two rear-firing flexibly mounted 0.30 in guns, and could carry up to 1,800 lb of bombs.

Operational history

Early in 1940, The Norwegian Government ordered 36 8A-5s which not had been delivered before Norway was invaded by the Germans. Completed between October 1940 and January 1941, the aircraft were delivered to a training centre in Canada that had been set up for the Norwegian Government-in-Exile, at Island Airport, Toronto, Ontario.

After the loss of two aircraft and a reassessment of the training needs now met by the use of other aircraft, the remaining total of 34 Model 8A-5Ps were sold to Peru, however 31 were repossessed by the Army Air Corps at the start of World War II. These aircraft, designated A-33, were used for training, target tug, and utility duties.^[1]

Variants

Model 8A-5 

A-33 

Operators

 Norway

• Little Norway

 Peru

 United States

• United States Army Air Corps

Specifications (A-33)

Data from McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920^[2]

General characteristics

• Crew: two
• Length: 32 ft 6 in (9.91 m)
• Wingspan: 47 ft 9 in (14.55 m)
• Height: 9 ft 4 in (2.84 m)
• Wing area: 363 sq ft (33.7 m²)
• Empty weight: 5,510 lb (2,499 kg)
• Loaded weight: 8,600 lb (3,901 kg)
• Max takeoff weight: 9,200 lb (4,173 kg)
• Powerplant: 1 × Wright GR-1820-G205A Cyclone radial engine, 1,200 hp (895 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed: 248 mph (216 km/h, 399 km/h) at 15,700 ft (4,785 m)
• Service ceiling: 29,000 ft (8,840 m)
• Climb to 10,000 ft (3,050 m): 5.8 min

Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 4 × forward .30 machine guns
  • 2 × .30 machine guns in rear cockpit
• Bombs: 1,800 lb (820 kg)

See also

Related development

• Northrop A-17
  

References

Notes

1. ^ Pelletier Air Enthusiast September/October 1998, pp. 3–4.
2. ^ Francillon 1979, p. 222.

Bibliography

• Francillon, René J. McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920. London: Putnam, 1979. ISBN 0-370-00050-1.
• Pelletier, Alain J. "Northrop's Connection: The unsung A-17 attack aircraft and its legacy, Part 1". Air Enthusiast No 75, May–June 1998, pp. 62-67. Stamford, Lincolnshire: Key Publishing. ISSN 0143-5490.
• Pelletier, Alain J. "Northrop's Connection: The unsung A-17 attack aircraft and its legacy, Part 2". Air Enthusiast No 77, September–October 1998, pp. 2–15. Stamford, Lincolnshire: Key Publishing. ISSN 0143-5490.
• Wagner, Ray. American Combat Planes of the 20th Century, Third Enlarged Edition. New York: Doubleday, 1982. ISBN 978-0930083175.

External links

• National Museum of the USAF - A-33 Fact Sheet
• Douglas 8A-5 for Norway, A-33