#groundattack

The Sukhoi Su-6 was a Soviet ground-attack aircraft developed during the early years of the Second World War by the Sukhoi design bureau. Conceived as a successor to earlier attack aircraft such as the Su-2, it was intended to provide a heavily armoured, high-performance close air support platform for the Soviet Air Forces.

The Stearman X-100, designated XA-21 following purchase by the Army Air Corps, was a competitor in a United States Army Air Corps competition for a twin-engined attack aircraft which led to the Douglas A-20 Havoc, Martin A-22 Maryland and North American B-25 Mitchell.

Its initial design featured an unusual streamlined stepless cockpit arrangement. After testing, this was found to restrict the pilot’s forward vision, and the aircraft was rebuilt with a conventional nose and cockpit structure. Although this change in the cockpit did not significantly affect performance, the XA-21 was not ordered into production.

The Beechcraft XA-38 Grizzly was a World War II-era ground attack aircraft, developed by Beechcraft, but never put into production. The Grizzly was to have been fitted with a forward-firing 75 mm cannon, to penetrate heavily armored targets.

While the first prototype flew on 7 May 1944, testing established that the type would not be ready for the projected invasion of Japan. It also featured the Wright R-3350 engines already in use with the Boeing B-29 Superfortress—which had priority. Consequently, the XA-38 was canceled after a second prototype had been completed.