In 1942, USAAF requested for a single-seat dive bomber design that powered by the new Pratt & Whitney XR4360 engine. The Vultee proposed their Model 90, and was awarded a contract for two prototypes, designated XA-41. After a mockup inspected in March 1943, the USAAF decided that it no longer needed dive bombers and changed the contract for a low-level ground attack aircraft instead. By this time, Vultee had merged with Consolidated to form Convair. Another change of plan occurred in September 1943, the USAAF concluded that it no longer needed a low-level ground attack aircraft, since the P-47 was proved capable of performing this role. The USAAF decided to keep XA-41 project as a flight testbed for the new R-4360 engine. It made its maiden flight in 1944. It was proved to have a high performance, and the low-altitude maneuverability was better than that of the P-51B but USAAF preferred twin-engined designs for its attack aircraft as the A-26 Invader, and no further consideration was given of any production of the XA-41. The plane was sold to Pratt & Whitney for tests of a variable-speed supercharger, and was eventually scrapped at in 1950.

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Dive bomber / Ground attack bomber interceptor

Designed for tactical military service as an attack bomber

54ft.0in.

48ft.8in

13ft.11in.

1x Pratt & Whitney XR-4360-1 Wasp Major radial engine

363 mph

1

4x wing fixed 0.50-calbre machine guns

6400 lbs. bomb load

The Convair XA-41 is suitable to group with the following collection series.

U.S.A.A.F. attack aircraft in World War II 1937 ~ 1945

Douglas Y1A-18 Shrike II

Vultee YA-19

Douglas A-20 (P-70) Havoc

Stearman XA-21

Martin A-22 Maryland

Martin A-23

Douglas A-24 (SBD) Dauntless

Curtiss A-25 (SB2C-1A) Helldiver

Douglas A-26 Invader

North American A-27 (AT-6)

Lockheed A-28 Hudson

Lockheed A-29 (A-28B) Hudson

Martin A-30 Baltimore

Vultee A-31 Vengeance

Brewster XA-32

Northrop A-33 Nomad

Brewster A-34 (SB2A) Buccaneer

Vultee A-35 Vengeance

North American A-36 (P-51A) Invader

Hughes XA-37 (XP-73 / XF-11)

Beech XA-38 Grizzly

Kaiser-Fleetings XA-39

Curtiss A-40 (SB3C)

Convair XA-41

Douglas XA-42 (XB-42) Mixmaster

Curtiss XA-43 (XF-87) Blackhawk

Convair XA-44 (XB-53)

Martin XA-45 (XB-51)

War-time U.S. experimental aircraft