Douglas T2D
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = T2D
|image = Douglas T2D.jpg
|caption = Douglas T2D-1 of VP-1
|type = Torpedo bomber
|manufacturer = Douglas Aircraft Company
|designer =
|first_flight = 27 January 1927
|introduction = 1927
|retired = 1937
|status =
|primary_user = United States Navy
|more_users =
|produced =
|number_built = 31
|unit cost =
|variants =
}}
The Douglas T2D was an American twin-engined torpedo bomber contracted by the military, and required to be usable on wheels or floats, and operating from aircraft carriers. It was the first twin-engined aircraft to be operated from an aircraft carrier.
Development and design
In 1925, the United States Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics designed a twin-engined torpedo bomber aircraft, intended to have greater performance than contemporary single-engined aircraft.{{cite book|last=Swanborough|first=Gordon|author2=Bowers, Peter M.|title =United States Navy Aircraft since 1911|edition=Second|year=1976|publisher=Putnam|location= London|pages=161–162|isbn=0-370-10054-9}} A single prototype was built by the Naval Aircraft Factory as the XTN-1, which was quickly followed by three identical aircraft built by Douglas, the T2D-1.
The XTN/T2D was a large two bay biplane, capable of easy conversion between floats and wheels, and carrying a crew of four.
Operational history
The first three T2D-1's were delivered to the torpedo bomber squadron VT-2 on 25 May 1927, being used for successful trials aboard the aircraft carrier {{USS|Langley|CV-1|2}}. A further nine T2D-1's were ordered in 1927, these normally being operated as floatplanes, partly owing to criticism from the Army of the Navy operating large land-based bombers, and partly as its large size prevented Langley from embarking a full airwing.{{cite book |last1=Donald |first1=David |title=The complete encyclopedia of world aircraft |date=1997 |publisher=Barnes & Noble Books |location=New York, NY |isbn=9780760705926 |edition=Reprinted}}
A further 18 aircraft were ordered in June 1930 as patrol floatplanes, being designated P2D-1. These were operated by Patrol Squadron VP-3 in the Panama Canal Zone until they were replaced by Consolidated PBYs in 1937.
Variants
File:U.S. Navy XTN-1 prototype.jpg
;XTN-1
:Original prototype built by Naval Aircraft Factory. One built.
;T2D-1
:Production aircraft, convertible torpedo bomber/patrol floatplane, powered by Wright R-1750 Cyclones. 12 built.
;P2D-1
:Dedicated patrol floatplane. Fitted with twin tail for improved engine out performance and powered by two Wright R-1820 Cyclones. 18 built.
Operators
;{{USA}}
Specifications (T2D-1 landplane / floatplane)
{{Aircraft specs
|ref=McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I{{cite book |last1=Francillon |first1=René J. |title=McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920 : Volume I |date=1988 |publisher=Naval Institute Press |location=London |isbn=0870214284 |pages=91–97}}
|prime units?=imp
|crew=4
|length ft=42
|length in=
|length note=(landplane)
:::{{cvt|44|ft|4|in}} (floatplane)
|span ft=57
|span in=
|span note=
|height ft=15
|height in=11
|height note=(landplane)
:::{{cvt|44|ft|4|in}} (floatplane)
|wing area sqft=886
|wing area note=
|aspect ratio=
|airfoil=
|empty weight lb=6011
|empty weight note=(landplane)
:::{{cvt|6528|lb}} (floatplane)
|gross weight lb=9986
|gross weight note=(landplane)
:::{{cvt|10503|lb}} (floatplane)
|max takeoff weight lb=10523
|max takeoff weight note=(landplane)
:::{{cvt|11040|lb}} (floatplane)
|fuel capacity=
|more general=
|eng1 number=2
|eng1 name=Wright R-1750 Cyclone
|eng1 type=9-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines
|eng1 hp=525
|prop blade number=3
|prop name=fixed-pitch metal propellers
|prop dia ft=
|prop dia in=
|prop dia note=
|max speed mph=125
|max speed note=at sea level (landplane)
:::{{cvt|124|mph|kn km/h}} at sea level (floatplane)
|cruise speed mph=
|cruise speed note=
|stall speed mph=
|stall speed note=
|never exceed speed mph=
|never exceed speed note=
|minimum control speed mph=
|minimum control speed note=
|range miles=457
|range note=(landplane)
:::{{cvt|384|mi|nmi km}} (floatplane)
|combat range miles=
|combat range note=
|ferry range miles=454
|ferry range note= (floatplane)
|endurance=
|ceiling ft=13830
|ceiling note=(landplane)
:::{{cvt|11400|ft}} (floatplane)
|g limits=
|roll rate=
|climb rate ftmin=
|climb rate note=
|time to altitude={{cvt|5000|ft}} in 5 minutes 54 seconds (landplane)
:::{{cvt|5000|ft}} in 7 minutes 42 seconds (floatplane)
|wing loading lb/sqft=11.4
|wing loading note=(landplane)
:::{{cvt|11.9|lb/sqft}} (floatplane)
|fuel consumption lb/mi=
|power/mass={{cvt|0.105|hp/lb|kW/kg}} (landplane)
:::{{cvt|0.1|hp/lb|kW/kg}} (floatplane)
|more performance=
|guns= *2 × {{convert|.30|in|mm|2|abbr=on}} M1919 Browning machine guns
|bombs= *1 ×{{convert|1618|lb|kg|abbr=on}} torpedo or equivalent bombload
|avionics=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20070808003630/http://www.boeing.com/history/mdc/t2d-1.htm Boeing page for Douglas T2D]
{{Douglas aircraft}}
{{USN patrol aircraft}}
{{USN torpedo aircraft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas T2d}}
Category:1920s United States bomber aircraft
Category:Aircraft first flown in 1927
Category:Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft