A2J Super Savage
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| A2J "Super Savage" | |
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| Type | Attack aircraft |
| Manufacturer | North American Aviation |
| Maiden flight | 4 January 1952 |
| Status | Cancelled |
| Produced | 1 |
| Developed from | AJ Savage |
The North American Aviation A2J "Super Savage" was a prototype carrier-based attack aircraft built in the early 1950s developed from the smaller AJ Savage.
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[edit] Design and development
The A2J was intended to replace the AJ Savage which was deficient in performance and was a less than satisfactory carrier plane.[1] It was essentially an 'enlarged' AJ Savage with the two reciprocating engines replaced with two Allison T40 turboprop engines and removal of the tail-mounted turbojet. Construction of two prototypes started 1 October 1948. but due to delays developing the engines, the first flight was not until 4 January 1952.[2] The competing XA3D, the prototypes of which were ordered the year after construction had began on the A2J prototypes, first flew in October 1952. The A3D had far superior performance, and that doomed the A2J.
The root cause for the failure of the A2J was the protracted development and poor reliability of the Allison T40 engines. The T40 engine was an advanced engine design of joining two T38 turboprop engines to drive two large contra-rotating propellers through a combining gearbox, proved to be very unreliable. The T40 engine was also used in the developmental A2D Skyshark, and the XF-84H Thunderscreech. After a number of engine related mishaps the A2J project was abandoned.
[edit] Operators
[edit] Specifications (XA2J-1)
General characteristics
- Length: 70 ft 3 in (21.42 m)
- Wingspan: 71 ft 6 in (21.80 m)
- Height: 24 ft 2 in (7.37 m)
- Wing area: 836 ft² (77.7 m²)
- Empty weight: 35,350 lb (16,035 kg)
- Loaded weight: 46,890 lb (21,269 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 61,200 lb (27,760 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Allison T40-A-6 turboprops, 5,035 eshp (3,756 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 451 mph (726 km/h)
- Range: 2,180 miles (3,508 km)
- Service ceiling 37,500 ft (11,400 m)
- Rate of climb: 6,820 ft/min (34.7 m/s)
- Wing loading: 56 lb/ft² (274 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.21 hp/lb (0.35 kW/kg)
Armament
- 10,500 lb (4,763 kg) of disposable stores
- 2x 20 mm cannons in tail (never fitted)
[edit] See also
Related development
[edit] References
- ^ Miller, Jerry, "Nuclear Weapons and Aircraft Carriers," Washington D.C., Smithsonian institution Press, 2001, pgs. 90-99, ISSBN 1-56098-944-0
- ^ Wagner, Ray, "American Combat Planes," third edition, Garden City, NY, Doubleday & Company, 1982, pgs. 389-490, ISBN 0-385-13120-8
- Wagner, Ray, "American Combat Planes," third edition, Garden City, NY, Doubleday & Company, 1982, ISBN 0-385-13120-8
- Miller, Jerry, "Nuclear Weapons and Aircraft Carriers," Washington D.C., Smithsonian institution Press, 2001, ISSBN 1-56098-944-0
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