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Douglas XB-19 (XBLR-2)

1941 COLD WAR WORLD WAR 2 X-PLANE

Douglas XB-19 (XBLR-2) History

From the 1920s to the 1960s, Douglas aircraft played a major role in American aviation, spanning the golden age of aviation, the interwar period, World War II and part of the Cold War. One of its advantages during World War II was the large multi-engine aircraft that could be used as transports or bombers for the US military and its allies. In the postwar years, the company turned to civilian passenger air travel, and eventually to battlefield missiles and space launch systems. One of his investments during the war became the experimental XB-19, a four-engine heavy bomber designed to drop a new mass of long-range high-altitude bomb delivery platforms. The XB-19 originally existed under the name XBLR-2, which accurately described its intent - "Experimental Bomber, Long Range, Type 2".

The competing (and equally experimental) Boeing XB-15 was once known as the XBLR-1.

Externally, the XB-19 is a late 1930s design with unfinished silver metal skin, heavy glass nose section and stepped cockpit cockpit. The hull features a streamlined teardrop design that tapers sharply at the stern. The internal bomb bay of the hull had a noticeably deep belly. The cockpit is lined with horizontal windows, with glass on the chin, to see under the front of the plane.

The wings are midship-mounted appendages and placed amidships. Each wing has a pair of engines mounted along its leading edge in a streamlined nacelle. The general design of the wing is straight with rounded ends. The rear wing consists of a curved vertical rear wing and a low curved horizontal plane.

The landing gear was particularly notable for having a tricycle arrangement, which was different from the "trailer" design employed by many bombers of the time. Large wheels are mounted on the main landing gear legs to support the weight of large aircraft on land.

The nasal bone has a smaller wheel that sits under the chin behind the window frame. Power for the XB-19 was initially provided by 4 x Wright R-3350 series radial piston engines.

Dimensionally, the XB-19 measures 132 feet 2 inches in length, with a wingspan of 212 feet and a height of 42 feet 9 inches. When empty, it displaces 130,230 pounds and has a maximum takeoff weight of 164,000 pounds. Her internal carrying capacity is quoted as an 18,700-pound store. In practice, a range of machine guns should be used to defend it - 5 x .50 Browning M2 heavy machine guns and 6 x .30 Browning M1919 medium machine guns.

Unlike other American bombers of the period, the XB-19 also carried a pair of 37mm automatic cannons.

Douglas received the construction contract in 1938 and made its first flight on June 27, 1941. The United States will enter World War II next December after Japan's surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Sometime in 1943, the aircraft was converted to Allison V-3420-11 V24 series engines, each rated at 2,600 horsepower. This gives the airframe a top speed of 265 mph, a cruising speed of 165 mph, a range of 4,200 miles, and a service ceiling of 39,000 feet.

The climb rate is 650 feet per minute.

The XB-19 retained its experimental designation throughout its active test life with the US Army Air Forces, and only completed one example. While Douglas preferred to end the program entirely, USAAC decided to continue with the airframe but keep it in a test configuration for subsequent evaluation. The XB-19 was never intended as a prototype for future USAAC/USAAF/USAF large bombers - the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and the Joint B-24 Liberator were firmly established as their heavy bombers.

At the end of the war, the technologically advanced Boeing B-29 Superfortress followed.

After the XB-19 ended its life as a test platform, it was converted into a cargo transport aircraft by the Air Force (such as the experimental Boeing XB-15) and served in this capacity until its official retirement. Although she was planned to be preserved in an American museum, the aircraft was eventually scrapped in 1949, with only two main landing gear tires salvaged.