Stearman XA-21
Stearman Aircraft · United States · first flew 1938 · bomber
The Stearman XA-21 was an American twin-engine attack bomber prototype developed in the late 1930s to meet a US Army Air Corps requirement for a new attack aircraft.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 16.18 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Twin-engine 1930s US attack bomber prototype
- Mid-wing monoplane with retractable undercarriage
- Twin radial engines in wing nacelles
Mid-wing twin-engine monoplane with a streamlined fuselage and retractable undercarriage — representative of late-1930s US attack designs. Twin radial engines in neat nacelles distinguish it from single-engine attackers.
Specifications
- The Stearman XA-21 has a length of 16.18 m (53 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 19.81 m (65 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 414 km/h (257 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Designed by Stearman (by then a Boeing subsidiary), the XA-21 competed against other designs for the USAAC attack role. Despite its competitive performance, it was not selected for production, losing out to other contenders.
Variants
Only one prototype was built; no production variants followed.
Where you'll see it
Remained a prototype; never entered USAAC or any other service.
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