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Boeing XB 38 Flying Fortress

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Top speed
  
526 km/h

Wingspan
  
32 m

Cruise speed
  
364 km/h

First flight
  
May 19, 1943

Range
  
5,310 km

Length
  
23 m

Engine type
  
Allison V-1710

Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress Boeing XB38 World War Photos

The XB-38 Flying Fortress was a single example conversion of a production B-17E Flying Fortress, testing whether the Allison V-1710 V type engine could be substituted for the standard Wright R-1820 radial engine during early World War II.

Contents

Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress The Prettiest B17 Flying Fortress Was The XB38

Design and development

Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress The Prettiest B17 Flying Fortress Was The XB38

The XB-38 was the result of a modification project undertaken by Boeing and Vega (a subsidiary of Lockheed) on a B-17 Flying Fortress to fit it with liquid-cooled Allison V-1710-89 Vee engine. It was meant as an improved version of the B-17, and a variant that could be used if air-cooled Wright R-1820 radial engines became scarce. Completing the modifications took less than a year, and the XB-38 made its first flight on May 19, 1943. Only one prototype was built, and it was developed from an existing B-17 bomber.

Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress The Prettiest B17 Flying Fortress Was The XB38

While the XB-38 delivered a substantially higher top speed, its service ceiling was lower. After a few flights it had to be grounded due to a problem with engine manifold joints leaking exhaust gases. Following the fixing of this problem, testing continued until the ninth flight on June 16, 1943. During this flight, the third (right inboard) engine caught fire, and the crew was forced to bail out. The XB-38 was destroyed and the project was canceled, in part because the V-1710 engines were needed for other projects such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Bell P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, North American P-51A Mustang, and Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighters.

Operators

 United States
  • United States Army Air Forces

    • Specifications (XB-38)

    Data from Lockheed Aircraft since 1913.

    General characteristics

    Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress httpsuploadwikimediaorgwikipediacommonsthu

  • Crew: 10
  • Length: 74 ft 0 in (22.56 m)
  • Wingspan: 103 ft 11 in (31.67 m)
  • Height: 19 ft 2 in (5.84 m)
  • Wing area: 1,420 ft² (131.9 m²)
  • Empty weight: 34,750 lb (15,762 kg)
  • Loaded weight: 56,000 lb (25,401 kg)
  • Max. takeoff weight: 64,000 lb (29,030 kg)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Allison V-1710-97 turbosupercharged liquid-cooled V12 engines, 1,425 hp (1,063 kW) each

    • Performance

    Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress The Boeing XB38 Watercooled Fortress Atomic Toasters

  • Maximum speed: 327 mph (284 knots, 526 km/h)
  • Cruise speed: 226 mph (197 knots, 364 km/h)
  • Range: 3,300 mi (2,870 nmi, 5,310 km)
  • Service ceiling: 29,600 ft (9,020 m)

    • Armament

  • Guns: 10× .50 in (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns
  • Bombs: 6,000 lb (2,700 kg)

    • Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress The Boeing XB38 Watercooled Fortress Atomic Toasters

    References

    Boeing XB-38 Flying Fortress Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA