Curtiss A-8
Model Airplane News Cover Art for June, 1932
by Jo Kotula
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The A-8 was a low-wing monoplane ground-attack aircraft designed in response to a 1929 United States Army Air Corps requirement for an attack aircraft to replace the A-3 Falcon. The XA-8 won a competition against the similar General Aviation/Fokker XA-7. 13 service test aircraft were ordered

     

Photos of the Curtiss A-8
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The A-8 was the first Curtiss machine of all-metal low-wing monoplane configuration with advanced features such as automatic leading edge slats and trailing-edge flaps. Four forward-firing 30 caliber machine guns were mounted in the wheel fairings, and an additional weapon was fitted in the observer's cockpit for rear defense. The standard bomb load was four 100 lb bombs. The A-8 created a sensation in US aviation circles when it went into service with the 3rd Attack Group at Fort Crockett, Texas in April 1932. All other standard aircraft were of biplane configuration, and the first monoplane fighter (the Boeing P-26A) did not become operational until eight months later.

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