Northrop BT-1 lasercut shortkit

Brief Aircraft History

The XBT-1 was designed in 1934 in response to a navy request for a dive bomber.  It was a low wing monoplane, of all metal construction apart from fabric covered control surfaces.  The prototype was powered by a 700hp Pratt & Whitney R-1535-66 Twin Wasp Jr. engine, later replaced by an 825hp R-1535-94.  Powered by the latter engine the BT-1 was capable of carrying a 1000lb bomb, had a service ceiling of 22,500ft and a top speed of 212 mph.

The US Navy placed an order for 54 BT-1s in 1936.  The aircraft entered service during 1938, and served on the USS Yorktown and USS Enterprise.

The aircraft was not a success in service.   Aware of the failings of the BT-1, Northrop soon began work on an improved XBT-2.  The new aircraft was given a more powerful Wright XR-1820-32 Cyclone engine, providing 1,000hp, combined with a redesigned control system.  It first flew on 25 April 1938, but was not a significant improvement, six months of tests followed, resulting in a significantly better aircraft.

During this process Northrop resigned from his company that by now was a fully owned subsidiary of Douglas.  The new aircraft was thus given the designation XSBD-1 (Experiment, Scout Bomber, Douglas). It would go on to be the most successful American dive bomber of WWII, commonly called the "SBD Dauntless".

Design Specifications