Five aircraft formation of the 3rd Attack Group near Lake Elsinore, taken April 11, 1932. Note the radial engine version (next to last), probably the YA-10. (U.S. Air Force photo)
After completion of service testing, four of five YA-8s and seven of eight Y1A-8s were assigned to operational attack squadrons and redesignated A-8. The only difference between the service test and operational aircraft were the unit markings added to the paint scheme of the A-8.
The A-8 was used by the 37th Attack Squadron of the 8th Pursuit Group based at Langley Field, Va., and the 3rd Attack Group based in Texas.
The 11 A-8s were not followed up with a production order. Forty-six improved versions were ordered as A-8B, but this order was changed to the radial engine-powered version with the A-12 designation.
The Air Corps tested attack aircraft with liquid-cooled engines for a few more years, but by the late-1930s the radial engine was clearly favored. All the World War II-era production attack aircraft were equipped with radial engines. The era of the single-engine attack aircraft was also coming to an end. The Air Corps staff gradually began to favor twin-engine attack aircraft that were similar to the light and medium bombers being developed in the closing years of the 1930s.
Type
Number built/
converted
Remarks
XA-8
1
Low-wing monoplane design
YA-8
5
Service test aircraft
Y1A-8
8
Service test aircraft
A-8
11 (cv)
Operational YA-8 and Y1A-8
Y1A-8A
1 (cv)
A-8 with geared engine
A-8A
1 (cv)
Operational Y1A-8A
A-8B
0
Design study; ordered as A-12
TECHNICAL NOTES: Armament: Four forward-firing .30-cal. machine guns and one flexible .30-cal. machine gun for the rear gunner plus provisions for up to 488 lbs. (4x122 lbs.) of bombs mounted on wing racks Engine:Curtiss V-1570-31 Conqueror of 600 hp Maximum speed: 183 mph Cruising speed: 153 mph Range: 480 miles Service ceiling: 18,100 ft.
Span: 44 ft. Length: 32 ft. Height: 9 ft. Weight: 5,890 lbs. gross takeoff weight Crew: Two (pilot and observer/rear gunner) Serial numbers: (A-8): 32-345 to 32-355; Curtiss Model 59A Other notes: Four YA-8s and eight Y1A-8s became A-8s when assigned to operational units. The first YA-8 became the YA-10 after an engine change. The last Y1A-8 became the Y1A-8A after an engine change.
