Brewster XSBA-1
Brewster Aeronautical Corporation · United States · first flew 1936 · fighter
The Brewster XSBA-1 was a single-engine scout bomber prototype developed for the US Navy in the mid-1930s, representing Brewster's first major naval aircraft design.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 9.6 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single-engine scout bomber monoplane prototype
- Mid-wing cantilever design with enclosed cockpit
- Retractable undercarriage and internal bomb bay
Distinguished by its mid-wing monoplane layout, enclosed tandem cockpit, and retractable landing gear — a modern appearance for its 1936 era.
Specifications
- The Brewster XSBA-1 has a length of 9.6 m (31 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 11.6 m (38 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 402 km/h (250 mph).
- Typical crew: 2.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
First flown in 1936, the XSBA-1 competed for a US Navy scout bomber contract but was not selected for large-scale production. The Naval Aircraft Factory produced a small batch as the SBN-1 to keep the design in service and gain production experience.
Variants
The production derivative was the SBN-1, built by the Naval Aircraft Factory rather than Brewster, which was occupied with the F2A Buffalo fighter.
Where you'll see it
Only a handful of SBN-1s were built; they served briefly with US Navy training units before becoming obsolete.
Related aircraft
- Brewster F2A Buffalo
- Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
- Brewster F3A-1 Corsair
- Brewster XA-32
- Arado Ar 95
- Avia B-634
- Boeing P-26C Peashooter
- ČKD-Praga E.210
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