From TheBestLinks.com
| XB-15
|
|
|
| Description
|
| Role | Heavy Bomber
|
| Crew | 10
|
| First Flight | 1937 October 15
|
| Entered Service | n/a
|
| Manufacturer | Boeing
|
| Number built | 1 XB-15
|
| Dimensions
|
| Length | 87ft 7in | 32.6m
|
| Wingspan | 149ft | 45.5m
|
| Height | 18ft | 5.5m
|
| Wing Area | ????ft² | ????m²
|
| Weights
|
| Empty | 65,068 lb | 29,515 kg
|
| Loaded | 69,068 lb | 31,329 kg
|
| Maximum Takeoff | 77,068 lb | 37,270 kg
|
| Capacity |
|
| Powerplant
|
| Engines | Pratt & Whitney R-1830-11 Twin Wasp radials (4)
|
| Power | 850 hp | 637 kW
|
| Performance
|
| Maximum Speed | 200 mph | 322 km/h
|
| Cruising Speed | 152 mph | 245 km/h
|
| Combat Range | 3,400 miles | 5470 km
|
| Ferry Range | 5,130 miles | 8295 km
|
| Service Ceiling | 18,900 ft | 5,772 m
|
| Rate of Climb | ft/min | m/min
|
| Wing Loading | lb/ft² | kg/m²
|
| Thrust/Weight |
|
| Power/Mass | .049 hp/lb | .0813 kW/kg
|
| Armament
|
| Guns | .3-calibre machine guns (3), .6 calibre machine guns (3)
|
| Bombs | 12,000 lb
|
The Boeing XB-15 (Boeing Model 294) bomber aircraft was first designed in 1934 as a test for the US Army to see if it was possible to build a heavy bomber with a 5,000-mile range. It was originally designated the XBLR-1 (experimental bomber, long range, model 1). When it first flew, it was the most massive and most voluminous aeroplane ever built in the United States. It set a number of load-to altitude records, including a 31,205-pound flight to 8,200 feet (1939 July 30). One notable product of this size was that the crew could use passages in the wing to make minor repairs while the plane was flying. Due to limits on the technology it used, a 5,000 mile flight took several days. Thus, the crew had bunks to sleep on between shifts. It was meant to used liquid-cooled 1,000 hp (750 kW) engines. Unfortunately, these were not available, so 850 hp (637 kW) engines were used instead. These engines significantly underpowered the plane; its top speed of 200 mph (322 km/h) was far to slow for an acceptable bomber, and the project was eventually scrapped. No B-15s were put into servise; The military converted the only XB-15 to a cargo carrier, designated the XC-105.
Despite its failure, the XB-15 did have a number of significant features:
External links
Related links
Top visited
0 of
0 links
[no links posted yet]
>> place link >>
Discussion
Last posted
0 of
0 messages
[no messages posted yet]
>> post message >>
Watch
You can
add this article to your own "watchlist" and receive e-mail notification about all changes in this page.
