Keystone B-3A
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| B-3A | |
|---|---|
 Keystone B-3A (S/N 30-281), the first B-3A built. |
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| Type | Light bomber |
| Manufacturer | Keystone |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 63 B-3A/B-5 |
| Variants | Keystone B-4 Keystone B-5 Keystone B-6 |
The Keystone B-3A was a bomber aircraft developed for the United States Army Air Corps in the late 1920s.
Contents |
[edit] Design development
It was originally ordered as the LB-10A (a single-tail modification of the Keystone LB-6), but the Army dropped the LB- 'light bomber' designation in 1930.
Though the performance of the B-3A was hardly better than that of the bombers flown at the end of World War I, it had come a long way. In terms of its safety, it was far superior to its oldest predecessors.
[edit] Operational history
The B-3A was the last biplane disbanded by the Army; it remained in service until 1940. A few years after it was first produced, a revolution in airplane design rendered it almost completely obsolete.
[edit] Variants
- LB-10
- One LB-6 conversion with re-designed single fin and rudder and two 525hp R-1750E engines.
- LB-10A
- Production version re-designated B-3A before any delivery made.
- B-3A
- Production version with Pratt and Whitney R-1690-3 Hornet engines, 63 ordered. 36 delivered as B-3A.
- B-5A
- Production version with Wright R-1750-3 Cyclone engines, 27 delivered.
[edit] Operators
- Philippine Army Air Corps
- 10th Bombardment Squadron
- United States Army Air Corps
- 2nd Bombardment Group, Langley Field, Virginia
- 20th Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A and B-5A 1931-1932
- 49th Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A and B-5A 1931-1932
- 96th Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A 1931-1932
- 4th Composite Group, Nichols Field, Luzon, Philippines
- 28th Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A 1932-1937
- 5th Composite Group, Luke Field, Territory of Hawaii
- 23rd Bomb Squadron - operated B-5A 1932-1937
- 72nd Bomb Squadron - operated B-5A 1932-1936
- 6th Composite Group, Albrook Field, Panama Canal Zone
- 25th Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A 1932-1936
- 7th Bombardment Group, March Field, California
- 9th Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A 1931-1934
- 11th Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A 1931-1934
- 31st Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A 1931-1934
- 19th Bombardment Group, Rockwell Field, California
- 30th Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A 1932-1936
- 32nd Bomb Squadron - operated B-3A 1932-1935
- 42nd Bomb Squadron (School, Kelly Field, Texas) operated 1935-1936
- 2nd Bombardment Group, Langley Field, Virginia
[edit] Specifications (B-3A)
General characteristics
- Crew: 5
- Length: 48 ft 10 in (14.9 m)
- Wingspan: 74 ft 8 in (22.8 m)
- Height: 15 ft 9 in (4.8 m)
- Wing area: 1,145 ft² (106.4 m²)
- Empty weight: 7,705 lb (5,875 kg)
- Loaded weight: 12,952 lb (5,875 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: lb (kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-1690-3 radial engines, 525 hp (392 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 114 mph (98 kt, 183 km/h)
- Cruise speed: 98 mph (85 kt, 158 km/h)
- Range: 860 mi (760 kt, 1,400 km)
- Service ceiling 12,700 ft (3,870 m)
- Rate of climb: 530 ft/min (2.7 m/s)
- Wing loading: 11.31 lb/ft² (55.42 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.0811 hp/lb (133 W/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 3× .30-calibre (7.62 mm) machine guns
- Bombs: 2,500 lb (1,100 kg); 4,000 lb (1,800 kg) on short runs
[edit] External links
- Encyclopedia of American Aircraft
- Photograph of B-3 on the ground
- USAF Museum article on LB-10
- USAF Museum article on B-3
[edit] References
- John Andrade, U.S.Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909, Midland Counties Publications, 1979, ISBN 0 904597 22 9 (Page 43 and 135)
- The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Aircraft (Part Work 1982-1985), 1985, Orbis Publishing, Page 2255
[edit] See also
Related development
Related lists
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