Vultee XA-41
Vultee Aircraft · United States · first flew 1944 · fighter
The Vultee XA-41 was an American single-engine ground-attack aircraft prototype of World War II, designed for low-level anti-tank and close air support roles. It featured an exceptionally powerful Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engine.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 14.83 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Large single-engine WWII ground-attack prototype
- Massive Pratt & Whitney R-4360 radial in nose
- Heavy armament with cannon underwing
Very large for a single-engine piston aircraft with a long tapered wing; the enormous nose housing the 28-cylinder radial engine dominates the frontal profile.
Specifications
- The Vultee XA-41 has a length of 14.83 m (49 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 16.46 m (54 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 584 km/h (363 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Vultee began developing the XA-41 in 1942 to meet a USAAF requirement for a heavily armed ground-attack aircraft capable of destroying armored vehicles. The prototype first flew in February 1944 but the project was cancelled as the war neared its end and attack aviation priorities shifted. Only one aircraft was completed.
Variants
Only a single XA-41 prototype was built; the design was not developed further.
Where you'll see it
The XA-41 never entered service, remaining a one-off prototype evaluated by the USAAF before cancellation.
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