Jeff Hunt
1st Lieutenant
What a beast.
Douglas XB-19
- Thread starter Jeff Hunt
- Start date
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vikingBerserker
Lieutenant General
Really was, and quiet beautiful. She looked even better with the Allison engines. I will never understand why the heck they didn't save her.
Yeah... 
Cool shot!
johnbr
2nd Lieutenant
chipieal
Airman
Just wondering how does the B - 19 compare to a B - 36 in size? Did it have the same problems of giantism?
stug3
Staff Sergeant
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hermankeil
Recruit
- 8
- Jul 29, 2017
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Why would it have needed 6 engines?
With the 4 engines it was outfitted with, it had a range of over 5,000 miles and could carry a max. load of over 37,000 pounds of bombs - there was no other bomber in WWII that had this ability of either range and/or maximum loadout.
The B-19 was literally a missed opportunity and can be considered the grandfather of all strategic heavy bombers.
wuzak
Captain
With a maximum speed of 224mph and a cruise speed of 135mph?
The XB-19A had a top speed of 265mph and a cruise speed of 185mph, which is more respectable. But only 4,200 miles range.
First flight of the XB-19 was in June 1941. After some testing and improvements, it was accepted by the USAAF in June 1942.
Not sure when it first flew with V-3420s.
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
Considering that the project started in 1935 in answer to the USAAC's "Project D" request - you have to understand what was technologically reasonable at the time.
It wasn't until the B-36, that the B-19 was matched in size, lift ability or range. Even the Luftwaffe's BV238 couldn't match the B-19 in size, range or loadout and it started development 6 years after the B-19.
The only wartime aircraft that surpassed the B-19 in size , would have been the Hughes H-4, but it's projected range and load ability were short of the B-19's actual capability.
stug3
Staff Sergeant
XB-19 being built at the Douglas plant in Santa Monica CA
Making its debut at March Field in 1941
Scrapped in Arizona, 1949
Making its debut at March Field in 1941
Scrapped in Arizona, 1949
stug3
Staff Sergeant
First Flight
stug3
Staff Sergeant
fuselage just forward of tail gun position
equipment bins
wing tunnel
stug3
Staff Sergeant
stug3
Staff Sergeant
stug3
Staff Sergeant
Thera are some good videos about the B-19 on youtube but I cant get them to post here.
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GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
It's true that the O/100 was impressive for it's time, indeed, but compare the B-19's size, lift capabilities and range to that of postwar strategic bombers."Ahem... The Handley Page O/100 would like a word..."
It would have been interesting to see what it's place in history would have been, had there not been delays in getting the prototype debugged and production commenced prior to the U.S. entering the war.
