USAF Weapon System 302A Tactical Bomber Competition

[circle-5]

Let's start with the Douglas Model 1364 (January, 1956), which was studied at the Douglas plant in Long Beach, California.

The proposal model was made at the manufacturer's in-house model shop (Santa Monica Plant). Shown here when the design was first revealed (B&W photo), and as it survives today (color photo).

 

[hesham]

Amazing project my dear Circle-5,


I guess that,I displayed a bomber looks like it from NASA report before.

 

[Stargazer]

Great discovery! It looks quite ugly in the first image, and quite beautiful in the second one (which depends on the angle, pretty much like the F-117 was a different bird from every different angle).

Looks a bit like a mini-Suntan of sorts...

 

[circle-5]

The attached 3-view drawing of the Douglas Model 1364 medium tactical bomber has an interesting history. It did not come from Douglas, but from Glenn L. Martin -- the Douglas competitor who eventually won the WS-302A contest with their B-68 proposal.

This drawing somehow magically appeared at Martin's Baltimore plant. All the calcs, notes and geometry marks were added by Martin engineers, as they analyzed and extracted every bit of information that could be squeezed out of this simple drawing.

 

[Steve Pace]

Martin's Model 316/XB-68 was really good looking and even made it to mockup stage! -SP

 

[circle-5]

A couple more views of the Douglas Model 1364 (WS-302A) proposal model (ca. January 1956).

 

[fightingirish]

When I saw the first posted b/w picture of the Douglas Model 1364, my first thought was, that it looked Russian from the 1960s.
Just like a smaller, two-engine version of the Myasishchev M-50 Bounder.


Anyway, thanks Circle-5 for this great contribution.

 

[XP67_Moonbat]

The Avro 730 had a cousin from America.

 

[circle-5]

Continuing with the WS-302A entry from North American Aviation. The best account of this important tactical bomber program can be found in Tony Buttler's book American Secret Projects / Bombers 1945-1974.

This particular WS-302A model shows the single-fin variant, with the early intakes. The missile bay detail is from the twin-tail variant, with variable ramp intakes (as found on the A3J Vigilante).

Just a thought: when this airplane was designed, only 10 years had passed since the end of WWII and the spectacular accomplishments of North American's own B-25 medium bomber.

 

[flateric]

Thanks a lot! Stunning stuff!

 

[circle-5]

A pair of Douglas proposal models for WS-302A. The Model 1364 (top aircraft with tail boom) is from January, 1956. Does anybody know anything about the other variant? It appears to have a lot in common with the Douglas Model 1355 LRI (WS-202A).

Also, does anybody know what the long fuselage "louvers" are for, above the wing root? (No, they are not VTOL lift engine intakes!)

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

Cutaway of the NAA entry plus a few more pics from Retrorocket's Photobucket which probably came from Circle-5. Last pic (ATFmodel.jpg) appears to be Retrorocket's own photo.


Source: http://s421.photobucket.com/user/retrorocketmodels/library/?sort=6&page=1

 

[circle-5]

Cutaway of the NAA entry plus a few more pics from Retrorocket's Photobucket which probably came from Circle-5. Last pic (ATFmodel.jpg) appears to be Retrorocket's own photo.

Credit for the twin-tail cutaway drawing of the NAA WS-302A goes to SPF member aim9Xray.
Bottom photo ("ATFmodel.jpg" ) was taken at the NAA trisonic wind tunnel in El Segundo, California. This twin-tail WS-302A model is now in a private collection.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

A pair of Douglas proposal models for WS-302A. The Model 1364 (top aircraft with tail boom) is from January, 1956. Does anybody know anything about the other variant? It appears to have a lot in common with the Douglas Model 1355 LRI (WS-202A).

Also, does anybody know what the long fuselage "louvers" are for, above the wing root? (No, they are not VTOL lift engine intakes!)

Not engine related. Unlikely to designed for letting stuff in, so perhaps designed for letting stuff out. What would eject upwards?


Only thing springs to mind would be chaff dispensers. Rather a lot of them though.

 

[hesham]

Hi,


anther picture to NAA WS-302A Model,with twin tail.

 

[circle-5]

Big photo. Better than small photo.

 

[KJ_Lesnick]

I'll have to do a check on exact performance capability, but honestly, they might have probably made do by de-navalizing an A3J/A-5.

 

[Archibald]

Brilliant work by circle-5, and beautiful aircraft. Notably the NAR design.

 

[acegeek9992]

Cutaway of the NAA entry plus a few more pics from Retrorocket's Photobucket which probably came from Circle-5. Last pic (ATFmodel.jpg) appears to be Retrorocket's own photo.


Source: http://s421.photobucket.com/user/retrorocketmodels/library/?sort=6&page=1

Any ideas on what the specific model designation for both NAA models were?

 

[hesham]

Did we send this drawing before ?,I found it on Net,with no reference
to the original source ?.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/2a/7e/be/2a7ebe3116e2eef33d44d1483c7bc8f7.jpg

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

I *think* that was drawn by Chris Gibson from the photos for Tony Buttler and published in the Secret Projects series.

 

[hesham]

I *think* that was drawn by Chris Gibson from the photos for Tony Buttler and published in the Secret Projects series.

OK my dear Paul,

and sorry for that,I don't remember.