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Home > Fact Sheets > Vultee A-35A
VULTEE A-35A
Posted 12/31/2008
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Vultee A-35 in flight. This is a target tug conversion with all armament removed. It's difficult to determine whether it's an A or B model. (U.S. Air Force photo)
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The A-35 was an improved version of the A-31, built to correct some problems identified by the Army Air Corps during evaluation flight testing. The A-31 was essentially a contract designation assigned to the Vultee Model 72 allowing the planes to be exported, primarily to Great Britain, under Lend-Lease agreements. The Air Corps evaluated the A-31 for use as a dive bomber, but for a variety of reasons only used the aircraft for secondary duties.
The Air Corps tests identified numerous problems with the fuel system, most of which were considered vulnerabilities in combat. Examples of changes required included self sealing wing fuel tanks, installation of a mechanical (engine driven) fuel pump, redesigned tail surfaces to less the force required to pull out of a dive, and replacement of the .30-cal. machine guns with .50-cal. guns.
A total of 99 aircraft were built as A35A before further improvements were incorporated into the design and the designation changed to A-35B.
| Type |
Number built/
converted |
Remarks |
| A-35A |
99 |
Improved A-31 |
TECHNICAL NOTES:
Armament: Four fixed .50-cal. machine guns in the wings, one .50-cal. machine gun in a flexible mount for the rear gunner plus 1,500 lbs. of bombs (two 500-lb. bombs internal and two 250-lb. bombs on external wing racks)
Engine: Wright R-2600-19 Cyclone radial of 1,600 hp
Maximum speed: 273 mph
Cruising speed: 235 mph
Range: 1,400 miles maximum ferry range
Service ceiling: 21,500 ft.
Span: 48 ft. 0 in.
Length: 39 ft. 9 in.
Height: 15 ft. 4 in.
Weight: 14,300 lbs. maximum
Crew: Two (pilot, navigator/gunner)
Serial numbers: 41-31148 to 41-31246
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