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The Boeing XB-39 Superfortress was a United States prototype bomber aircraft, a single example of the B-29 Superfortress converted to fly with alternative powerplants. It was intended to demonstrate that the B-29 could still be put into service even if the first choice of engine, the air-cooled Wright R-3350 radial engine, ran into development or production difficulties.
Starting life as the first YB-29 delivered to the United States Army Air Forces, it was modified by the US manufacturing company General Motors to use Allison V-3420-17 liquid-cooled V12 inline engines. Testing on it began in early 1944. Since no very serious problems with the R-3350 developed, and most flaws of the B-29 were worked out by the time production began, the B-39 was not ordered into production.
[edit] Specifications (XB-39)
General characteristics
- Crew: 10: pilot, co-pilot, flight engineer, bombardier, navigator, radio operator, side gunners (two), top gunner, and tail gunner
- Length: 99 ft 0 in (30.18 m)
- Wingspan: 141 ft 3 in (43.05 m)
- Height: 27 ft 9 in (8.46 m)
- Wing area: 1736 ft² (161.3 m²)
- Empty weight: 74,500 lb (33,800 kg)
- Loaded weight: 120,000 lb (54,000 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 133,500 lb (60,560 kg)
- Powerplant: 4× Allison V-3420-11 liquid-cooled V24 engines, 2,100 hp (1,600 kW) each
Performance
Armament
- Guns:
- Bombs: 20,000 lb (9,000 kg)
[edit] See also
Related development
Related lists
[edit] References
[edit] Bibliography
- Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Bombers, B-1 1928 to B-1 1980s. Fallbrook, CA: Aero Publishers, 1962, second edition 1974. ISBN 0-8168-9126-5.
[edit] External links
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USAAS/USAAC/USAAF/USAF bomber designations 1924-1962 |
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