Douglas XB-19
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Image:XB-19 on ground (cropped).jpg
The Douglas XB-19 was the largest bomber built for the United States Army Air Corps until 1946. It was originally given the designation XBLR-2 (XBLR- denoting Experimental Bomber, Long Range).
The purpose of the XB-19 project was to test the flight characteristics and design techniques associated with giant bombers. Douglas Aircraft Company strongly wanted to cancel the project, because it was extremely expensive. Despite advances in technology that made the XB-19 obsolete before it was even completed, the Army Air Corps felt that the prototype useful for testing. Its construction took so long that competition for the contracts to make the XB-35 and XB-36 occurred two months before its first flight.
The plane finally flew on June 27 1941, more than three years after the construction contract was awarded. In 1943, the original engines were replaced with Allison V-3420-11 inline engines. After completion of testing, the XB-19 served as a cargo carrier until it was scrapped in 1949.
Specifications (XB-19A)
{{airtemp
|plane or copter?=plane |jet or prop?=prop
|crew=18 |length main=132 ft 2 in |length alt=40.2 m |span main=212 ft 0 in |span alt=64.6 m |height main=42 ft 9 in |height alt=13.0 m |area main=4,492 ft² |area alt=417 m² |empty weight main=140,230 lb |empty weight alt=63,500 kg |loaded weight main=158,930 lb |loaded weight alt=72,000 kg |max takeoff weight main=164,000 lb |max takeoff weight alt=74,400 kg
|number of props=4 |engine (prop)=Allison V-3420-11 |type of prop=V24 engines |power main=2,600 hp |power alt=1,940 kW
|max speed main=265 mph
|max speed alt=230 kt, 426 km/h
|cruise speed main=165 mph
|cruise speed alt=143 kt, 266 km/h
|range main=
- Combat range: 4,200 mi
|range alt=3,600 nm, 6,800 km)
- Ferry range: 7,750 mi (6,730 nm, 12,500 km
|ceiling main=39,000 ft |ceiling alt=12,000 m |climb rate main=650 ft/min |climb rate alt=3.3 m/s |loading main=35 lb/ft² |loading alt=170 kg/m² |power/mass main=0.065 hp/lb |power/mass alt=110 W/kg
|guns=
- 5× .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns
- 6× .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns
- 2× 36 mm (1.42 in) cannon </ul>
|bombs=
- 18,700 lb (8,480 kg)
}}
External links
Related content
{{aircontent |sequence=
- XBLR- series: XBLR-1 - XBLR-2 - XBLR-3
- B- series: XB-16 - B-17 - B-18 - XB-19 - Y1B-20 - XB-21 - XB-22
|lists=
}}