Northrop Gamma - Variants

Variants

Gamma 2A

first production aircraft, sold to Texaco and flown by Frank Hawks as "Sky Chief", 785 hp (585 kW) Wright radial engine

Gamma 2B

two-seat version with tandem controls, flown across Antarctica as the "Polar Star", 500 hp (373 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp radial engine.

Gamma 2C (YA-13)

Northrop-proposed attack version to compete with Curtiss A-12 Shrike armed with 4x 0.30 cal machine guns in the wings, 1x 0.30 cal machine gun on a flexible mount for rear defence, and up to 1,100 lb (500 kg) of bombs under the wings, evaluated by USAAC in 1933

XA-16

YA-13 prototype redesignated after being fitted with a Pratt & Whitney R-1830-9 engine

Gamma 2D

cargo version used by TWA, three built, 710 hp (529 kW) Wright Cyclone engine. One aircraft was converted into an "Experimental Overweather Laboratory" studying icing, superchargers, radios, and turbulence at 20,000-35,000 ft (6,100–10,670 m), then used by USAAC under the designation UC-100. Another retired TWA aircraft was used by Spanish Republican air force for coastal patrol.

Gamma 2E

similar to Gamma 2C in armament except for a 1,600 lb (727 kg) bomb load, used by the Republic of China Air Force as a light bomber until 1938 with a number of aircraft built in China, one used by the British Aeroplane & Armament Experimental Establishment and two supplied to the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service, as the Northrop BXN, for evaluation in 1933.

Gamma 2F

another attack version developed in parallel with Gamma 2C, entered service as Northrop A-17 Nomad

Gamma 2G

two-seat race version, originally with a Curtiss Conqueror engine, later changed to Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp Jr., then to Wright Cyclone SGR-1820-G-5. Flown by Jacqueline Cochran and Howard Hughes

Gamma 2H

testbed for Sperry automatic pilot, also flown by Russell Thaw to a third-place finish in the 1935 Bendix Trophy race

Gamma 2J

two seat trainer powered by 600 hp (448 kW) Pratt & Whitney Wasp with retractable undercarriage intended for USAAC. North American BC-1 preferred. Only one built.

Gamma 2L

used by Bristol for Bristol Hercules engine testing

Gamma 5A

one aircraft exported to Imperial Japanese Navy (designation BXN1) as a study in modern engineering

Gamma 5B

two-seat version with the cockpits moved forward, used by the Spanish Republican air force for coastal patrol

Gamma 5D

one aircraft exported to Japan with "Army-type" equipment (designation BXN2), studied by Nakajima, then passed to Manchukuo National Airways which used it for aerial reconnaissance over China and USSR.