Evening clue. Thanks; Ernie P.
What warbird do I describe?
Clues:
1. There was only one ever built.
2. It was built by one of four aircraft companies which competed in a competition for a contract to build a new warbird.
3. It was the only one of the four which did not eventually enter production in some form.
4. The other three aircraft were all produced in large numbers.
5. This aircraft was the only multi-engined aircraft produced by the company.
6. And, although it wasn’t selected for production, it was a fast aircraft for the day.
7. Despite this failure, the name of the producing company is one well known to almost everyone on this forum.
8. It was initially produced with a large “greenhouse” cockpit area, intended to provide lots of visibility for its pilot and bombardier.
9. Unfortunately, the high visibility cockpit restricted forward visibility for the pilot.
10. So, the company installed a more standard cockpit area; but performance remained about the same.
11. Twin engine; crew of three.
12. Nine machine guns.
13. Bomb load over 2,500 pounds.
14. A little over 50 feet in length.
15. Wingspan around 65 feet.
16. Dry weight was over 12,000 Lb.
17. Loaded weight was around 18,000 Lb.
18. The cockpit arrangement was similar to that used on most German WWII bombers.
19. The revised cockpit arrangement was similar to that used on many WWII American medium bombers.
20. Maximum speed was just over 250 MPH.
21. It could cruise at 200 MPH.
22. Machine guns were all .30 caliber.
23. The other three aircraft, all of which ultimately found their way into production (although perhaps after extensive changes), were used in a variety of roles.
24. These roles included attack, reconnaissance, intruder, light bomber, night fighter, medium bomber, patrol and trainer.
25. The other three were all produced in large numbers.
26. And all three were used by other countries.
27. Ironically enough, one of those foreign countries wound up using one of the aircraft to attack the armed forces of the manufacturing country.
28. The specifications for the aircraft were released in late 1937 or early 1938 (sources differ).
29. The competition in which our subject aircraft failed to attract any orders was held in 1939.
30. All three of the aircraft in competition with our subject aircraft attracted interest from the French Air Force.
31. And all three of them, in their final forms, ultimately served with the French.