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It wasn't a Stirling success, either.Can we include the Heinkel He 177? Twin props but one could argue four engines? The Manchester was a big twin.
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True. Swap in a pair of well-assembled >2,000 hp Sabres or Centaurus and we may have a viable aircraft.It wasn't a Stirling success, either.
It wasn't a Stirling success, either.
Aircraft | Wingspan | Length | Weight empty | Power | Bomb load |
Blenheim | 56' 4" | 39' 9" | 8,100lb | 2X 840HP | 1,000lb |
Wellington II | 86' 2" | 64' 7" | 20,258lb | 2X 965HP | 2,500lb |
Ju-88A | 65' 10.5" | 47' 1.5" | 27,577lb* | 2X 1200HP | 4,410lb |
B-25 Mitchell | 67' 6.7" | 52' 10.8" | 20,300lb | 2X 1700HP | 3,200lb |
B-26 Marauder | 71' | 58' 3" | 24,000lb | 2X 1920HP | 3,000lb |
Warwick B.Mk.I | 96' 8.5" | 72' 3" | 28,450lb | 2X 1850HP | 6,000lb |
Mosquito B.IV | 54' 2" | 40' 9.5" | 21,794lb* | 2X 1280HP | 2,000lb |
The OP asked about how big a twin engined aircraft can be. We are therefore interested in things intended to be heavy bombers, which restricts us to the Avro Manchester, the Handley Page Halifax, the Vickers Warwick, and the Heinkel He177. All four of these aircraft were designed around big engines that were anticipated to produce 2000+ horsepower. A Lancaster sized aircraft would have good performance on a pair of Bristol Centauruses or Wright R3350s. These engines were not in any sort of functional production. The Manchester and Halifax were redesigned around four of the smaller Merlin and Hercules engines. The Warwicks were just never sent on bombing missions. The He177 became a drag on German resources.Spec B.9/32 for a twin engined medium day bomber led to the prototype Wellington. During that process its empty weight rose from 6,300lb to 11,508lb by first flight in June 1936
Spec B1/35 was for a twin engined heavy bomber. Range 1,500 miles. Bomb load 2,000lb. Cruising speed 195+mph. The suggested engines were the Armstrong Siddeley Deerhound, Bristol Hercules or RR Merlin. That led to the RR Vulture powered Warwick being selected.
Then in 1936 the Wellington was redesigned before entering production and so gaining the look of a smaller Warwick. A Wellington I had an empty weight of 18,556lb and gross weight of 24,850lb.
The Warwick then found itself in competition for the RR Vulture engines as a result of the issue of Spec P.13/36 which led to the Manchester (which was initially for a twin engined medium bomber, the corresponding heavy bomber Spec being B.12/36 that led to the Stirling). By the time it flew in 1939 the empty weight was 27,032lb and a gross weight of 42,182lb (including a 7,500lb bomb load, 700 Imp Gal of fuel, 40 Imp Gal of oil, other operational equipment of 1,040lb and 5 crew). This was nearly double the figure in the Vickers tender 4 years previously.
The Spec that eventually led to the B-25 was issued in March 1938. The prototype NA-40 flew in early 1939. Empty weight 13,961lb gross 19,741lb. Range 1,200 miles with 2,100lb bomb load. Then completely redesigned as a larger aircraft with more range & greater payload with the B-26 being the competitor in the 1939 design competition.
Looking at the figures you can see just how quickly aircraft were developing in the 1930s.
To sort of reinforce this.The ability of two engines to power large aircraft is a function of how big and powerful those two engines are. Think of all the new, large airliners powered by giant turbo-fans.
Indeed, modern turbofans go up to pretty incredible sizes.The ability of two engines to power large aircraft is a function of how big and powerful those two engines are. Think of all the new, large airliners powered by giant turbo-fans.
Avro Anson -- 5375 lb according to Wikipedia. Can we include pre-war biplanes?This has me wondering, what is the smallest or lightest twin-engined, multi-seat bomber of ww2? Such as the 6,911 lb (empty), 9,987 lb (gross) Potez 630.
Was the Anson ever a bomber? As for biplanes, I'd accept anything that was still operational in squadron service post-Sept 1939, such as one of my faves, the Boulton Paul Overstrand, but it's heavier than my Potez.Avro Anson -- 5375 lb according to Wikipedia. Can we include pre-war biplanes?
You go to the naughty corner!It wasn't a Stirling success, either.
They were flown on the first 1000 plane raid, so yeah.Was the Anson ever a bomber?
Send the Ansons, at least there was a vague chance of them surviving.I want to send the last squadron of Overstrands to RAF Base Obsolete (Malaya) in 1939 to serve alongside the Vickers Vildebeest.
That's more than the Airspeed Oxford, so yes, Anson is in.They were flown on the first 1000 plane raid, so yeah.