The Boeing GA-1 Model 10 was an armoured Triplane.
Designed in 1919, it was powered by a pair of modified Liberty engines driving pusher propellers.
The first of the Engineering Division’s heavily armoured GAX series (ground attack, experimental) aircraft, the ponderous airplane was intended to strafe ground troops while remaining immune to attack from the ground as well as from other enemy aircraft.
It was so well armoured that its five-ton weight proved excessive.
Variants
GA-1
Armoured triplane, one pilot and two gunners, two Liberty L-12A V pusher engines of 435 hp (324 kW).
GA-2
Biplane, one pilot and two gunners, 750 hp (559 kW) Engineering Division W-18 engine, one 37mm cannon and 6 0.3 in (7.62mm) machine guns.
Specifications
Crew
three
Length
33 ft 7 in (10.25 m)
Wingspan
65 ft 6 in (19.97 m)
Height
14 ft 3 in (4.34 m)
Wing area
1,016 sq ft (94.39 m2)
Empty weight
7,834 lb (3,553 kg)
Gross weight
10,426 lb (4,729 kg)
Powerplant
2 × Liberty L-12A Pusher , 435 hp (324 kW) each
Performance
Maximum speed
105 mph (169 km/h, 91 kn)
Cruise speed
95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn)
Range
350 mi (563 km, 300 nmi)
Service ceiling
11,500 ft (3,505 m)
Rate of climb
600 ft/min (3.05 m/s)
Armament
1 x 37 mm Baldwin cannon
8 x .30 cal. Browning machine guns
(With some machine guns removed, 10 small fragmentation bombs could be carried)
