The Vultee V-11 and V-12 were American stressed-skin monocoque monoplane attack aircraft of the 1930s.
Developed from the Vultee V-1 single-engine airliner, the V-11 and V-12 were purchased by several nations for their armed forces, including China, who used them in combat against Japanese forces in the Second Sino-Japanese War.
The United States Army Air Corps purchased seven V-11s as the YA-19 in the years before World War II, testing them to gather data to compare against twin engine light attack aircraft.
In 1935, Vultee produced a light bomber derivative of their single-engined passenger transport, the Vultee V-1, which, while demonstrating good performance, was only sold in small numbers owing to restrictions placed on the use of single-engined aircraft for scheduled passenger transport operations.
The resulting aircraft, the Vultee V-11, retained the single-engined, low wing format and all-metal stressed skin structure of the V-1.
It combined a new fuselage with accommodation for the three crew members under a long greenhouse canopy with the wings and tail surfaces of the Vultee V-1.
Variants
V-11
First prototype fitted with 750 hp (560 kW) Wright SR-1820-F53 Cyclone driving a two-bladed Hamilton Standard controllable-pitch propeller, which crashed killing both pilot and the project engineer.
V-11-A
Second prototype, similar to first V-11, but with a three-bladed constant speed propeller.
V-11-G
Initial production two-seat light bomber.
Powered by an 850 hp (630 kW) Wright R-1820-G2 Cyclone engine.
30 built for China.
V-11-GB
Three-seat version of V-11.
4 aircraft purchased by Soviet Union (2 as pattern aircraft), 40 by Turkey and others.
V-11-GB2
26 purchased by Brazil – generally similar to V-11-GB
V11-GB2F
Final example for Brazil fitted with floats, however it wasn’t accepted.
V-11-GBT
redesignation of V-11-GB for Turkey
V-12
Revised version of three-seat bomber with refined aerodynamics and more power.
One prototype flew in 1939 powered by Pratt & Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp engine.
V-12-C
Production version of V-12 for China. Powered by R1820-G105B Cyclone engine.
26 built, one by Vultee and remaining 25 assembled in China.
V-12-D
Revised version with new fuselage and powered by 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) Wright R-2600 Cyclone 14 engine. 52 ordered for China, two pattern aircraft built by Vultee and 50 for local assembly.
V-52
Unbuilt observation design based on YA-19.
USAAC Designations
YA-19
Variant of V-11-GB for United states Army Air Corps.
Seven examples built.
YA-19A
The last YA-19 was redesignated and completed as an engine test bed.
Equipped with enlarged vertical stabilizer (for improve directional stability) and powered by Lycoming O-1230 (12-cylinder opposed) engine.
YA-19B
The second YA-19 built was redesignated after being fitted with a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radial engine as an engine test bed.
YA-19C
The YA-19A was redesignated after being fitted with a Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp R-1830-51 engine. Performance was similar to the YA-19.
A-19
The remaining five YA-19s were redesignated A-19 after assignment to active duty.
Soviet Designations
BSh-1
Soviet licensed armoured ground attack version.
Powered by 920 hp (690 kW) M-62.
Production stopped after at least 31 built.
PS-43
Designation for BSh-1 when used by Aeroflot as light transport.
Specifications
XA-19
Crew
Three
Length
37 ft 10 in (11.53 m)
Wingspan
50 ft 0 in (15.24 m)
Height
10 ft 0 in (3.05 m)
Wing area
384 sq ft (35.7 m2)
Airfoil
Clark Y
Empty weight
6,452 lb (2,927 kg)
Gross weight
10,420 lb (4,726 kg)
Max take-off weight
16,285 lb (7,387 kg)
Fuel capacity
311-330 gallons
Powerplant
1 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-17 Twin Wasp,
14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial engine,
1,200 hp (890 kW)
Propellers
3-bladed Hamilton Standard variable-pitch propeller
Performance
Maximum speed
230 mph (370 km/h, 200 kn) at 6,500 ft (2,000 m)
Cruise speed
207 mph (333 km/h, 180 kn)
Minimum control speed
80 mph (130 km/h, 70 kn)
Range
1,110 mi (1,790 km, 960 nmi) with 1,080 lb (490 kg) of bombs
Ferry range
1,350 mi (2,170 km, 1,170 nmi)
Service ceiling
20,500 ft (6,200 m)
Rate of climb
1,320 ft/min (6.7 m/s)
Armament
Guns
4 x forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns in wings
1 x dorsal .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun
1 x ventral .30 in (7.62 mm) machine gun
Bombs
6 x 30 lb (14 kg) in cells semi-recessed in wing centre section and 1,100 lb (500 kg) externally.
