Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly

The Beechcraft XA‑38 “Grizzly” was a single‑engine, heavy‑fighter prototype developed in the United States toward the end of World War II. Ordered by the United States Army Air Forces in 1944, the aircraft was intended to replace the aging Douglas A‑20 and provide a fast, fire‑power‑rich platform for ground‑attack missions. Designed by Beech Aircraft Corporation, the Grizzly featured a powerful Pratt & Whitney R‑2800‑22 18‑cylinder radial engine delivering 2,000 hp, driving a three‑bladed propeller. Its most notable armament consisted of six .50‑caliber machine guns mounted in the nose and a pair of 37 mm M4 cannons in the wing roots, supplemented by an internal bomb bay capable of carrying up to 2,000 lb of ordnance. The airframe employed a low‑wing monoplane layout with a robust all‑metal construction, retractable landing gear, and a bubble canopy that offered excellent visibility for the pilot. Although the prototype flew for the first time on 22 August 1945 and demonstrated impressive speed—exceeding 470 mph—its development was cancelled after the war ended, as the need for a dedicated land‑based attack aircraft diminished. The XA‑38 remains a significant example of late‑war innovation, illustrating Beechcraft’s capacity to design high‑performance combat aircraft and influencing later post‑war projects such as the B‑45 Tornado.

Beechcraft

Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification