Douglas A20 Havoc

Milton Shupe

Milton Shupe

Staff Contributor
Staff member
This is "our" next project in the queue. I have been wanting to get this started for a long time. However, I will wait until the Harpoons, Lodestars, and Mallard are off my desk before starting.

I have amassed lots of research on this aircraft over the last few years and hopefully we will do her justice.

Here's a great website with a breakdown and write-up on all the variants.

http://www.americancombatplanes.com/a20_1.html
 
Excellent news, Milton. A plane to accompany my A-28 and A-38 Grizzly variants.

Somehow I remember reading about a Tigercat in the project queue, maybe between the lines. I'm seeing a lot of activity for the Tigercat on the "dark side" forum but very little, here in the "ole folks vintage FS9" side. Has the Tigercat become solely an FSX venture?

BB686:US-flag:
 
That is fantastic news, Milton!

Here are some photos of the only A-20 Havoc in the world that flies - its first post restoration flight just took place less than two weeks ago. It is owned by Rod Lewis (Lewis Air Legends) and was restored to original WWII configuration by Aero Trader at Chino, CA. (This is the same A-20 which used to be owned by the Lone Star Flight Museum). Its a very authentic restoration, with full armament, reportedly including the ventral "tunnel gun" (which can't be seen in these photos), and other original WWII details, like the proper radios - note on top of the aircraft, the original WWII radio directional finding compass loop antenna, used on aircraft in the CBI Theatre and parts of the South Pacific Theatre, as well as a standard WWII VHF antenna.

I got to see this aircraft while it was under restoration, but photos weren't allowed to be taken. The same powerplants as a B-25, but noticeably smaller and with a single pilot.







 
Thank you! One of my favorite planes, one that has long been under represented in flight sims. I know it will be awhile and we'll have Lodestars and Harpoons to keep us busy. But I'm really glad you're modeling this plane. Woohoo! :D
 
Blackbird686 said:
Excellent news, Milton. A plane to accompany my A-28 and A-38 Grizzly variants.

Somehow I remember reading about a Tigercat in the project queue, maybe between the lines. I'm seeing a lot of activity for the Tigercat on the "dark side" forum but very little, here in the "ole folks vintage FS9" side. Has the Tigercat become solely an FSX venture?

BB686:US-flag:
Click to expand...

Tom,

I made most of the mods to the F7F series of aircraft before I packaged it up for an FSX native conversion. I have been so busy with the Harpoons/Lodestars/Mallard that I have not touched the F7F's since.

I have not forgotten nor forsaken the Tigercats :) They will be coming out before long.
 
Bomber_12th said:
That is fantastic news, Milton!

Here are some photos of the only A-20 Havoc in the world that flies - its first post restoration flight just took place less than two weeks ago. It is owned by Rod Lewis (Lewis Air Legends) and was restored to original WWII configuration by Aero Trader at Chino, CA. (This is the same A-20 which used to be owned by the Lone Star Flight Museum). Its a very authentic restoration, with full armament, reportedly including the ventral "tunnel gun" (which can't be seen in these photos), and other original WWII details, like the proper radios - note on top of the aircraft, the original WWII radio directional finding compass loop antenna, used on aircraft in the CBI Theatre and parts of the South Pacific Theatre, as well as a standard WWII VHF antenna.

I got to see this aircraft while it was under restoration, but photos weren't allowed to be taken. The same powerplants as a B-25, but noticeably smaller and with a single pilot.
Click to expand...

That's great news John; thank you fro the heads-up and pictures.

My biggest issue will be deciding which variants to do, and how to manage a project with so many popular variants.

I would love to hear from folks about the variants that would be most desired.
 
Milton Shupe said:
My biggest issue will be deciding which variants to do, and how to manage a project with so many popular variants.

I would love to hear from folks about the variants that would be most desired.
Click to expand...

That should open the floodgates..........:jump:
 
That's easy:Early A-20B or C, A-20G with 20mm long gun nose, A-20G 30mm short gun nose and the A-20J/K bomber nose.

Dave
 
As you know there are many variants, 4 engine types, nose configs, 2 tails, 4 cowlings, 2 nacelles, gun configs, and machine gun/turret configs.

Obviously, I cannot do all of them, probably not the DB-7 (smaller engine and nacelle and vtail) or DB-7a (stepped nose glass), but the DB-7b, Boston III is likely.

That would also presume then the A-20 (similar to the DB-7b) without turbocharger (A-20A with diagonal nose window glass) (most A-20's were converted to P-70s).

The A-20B 's (similar to the DB-7A) were unpopular due to poor armor protection and no self-sealing tanks. Most went to Russia or used in recon missions. Likely will not do this variant.

The A-20C and G's are likely on the list to be done.

The D/E/F are not on the list.

The H/K's are a possibility but would require different nose, cowlings and flight models.

These are just my initial takes on the series and may change. :)
 
Here are some photos that have been posted to Facebook via Challenge Publications ("Air Classics" and "Warbirds International" magazines), of the Rod Lewis A-20G Havoc, that has now been flying following a six-year restoration to original WWII configuration, and is the only A-20 in the world that can fly. It is being featured in the next issue of "Air Classics". The restoration features all of the original military equipment, working bomb bay, full armament, and an operational Martin 250 turret. There was a ton of work involved to do all of that and return it to full stock WWII condition, as it was modified into an executive transport in the post-war years. According to Challenge Publications, a Tokyo tank is being built to extend the aircraft's limited range.

Hopefully this aircraft will be seen at some airshows next year, or even perhaps one later this year. Stewart Dawson has been the test pilot for all of the flights thus-far, and has reported that the aircraft has wonderful flying characteristics.





 

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Thank you John for that info. We are wrapping up the Harpoons, Lodestars, Mallard and F7F's over the next 30 days or so and then we plan to get started on the A-20 project for FS9.

It would be great to see an FSX native project going too.
 
Here are a couple more high-resolution photos of this particular A-20G Havoc restoration:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wingmanphoto/20134622838/sizes/h/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wingmanphoto/20119963930/sizes/h/

I love the early-war olive drab - a lighter shade than what was used later in WWII.

Speaking of A-20 Havocs, I got to see Howard Hughes' A-20 up-close last year, now owned by Kermit Weeks, disassembled and in storage at Aero Trader's desert storage yard. Peering inside, it still had all of the 1950's-era executive interior. I suspect that Weeks will have it restored to full original WWII configuration as well, when the time comes.
 
Bomber_12th said:
Here are a couple more high-resolution photos of this particular A-20G Havoc restoration:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wingmanphoto/20134622838/sizes/h/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/wingmanphoto/20119963930/sizes/h/

I love the early-war olive drab - a lighter shade than what was used later in WWII.

Speaking of A-20 Havocs, I got to see Howard Hughes' A-20 up-close last year, now owned by Kermit Weeks, disassembled and in storage at Aero Trader's desert storage yard. Peering inside, it still had all of the 1950's-era executive interior. I suspect that Weeks will have it restored to full original WWII configuration as well, when the time comes.
Click to expand...

Beautiful shots John; added to my reference pics pool. :jump:
 
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