Too Little, Too Late - The B-32 Dominator

[the lancaster kicks ass]

actually, the more you look at it, the more it really does look like it..........

 

[FLYBOYJ]

And I think this is what was sought when Consolidated first designed the B-24

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

That it was to look like a B-26 or this is what they had actually invisioned when they thought up the B-24?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

That it was to look like a B-26 or this is what they had actually invisioned when they thought up the B-24?

I think they invisioned the B-24 to look like the B-36 prototype (it had a twin tail) Ruebin Fleet pushed his design team to get the -24 out the door asap. Because of this compromises were made, especially in the fuselage design. Ever hear the saying "The B-24 is the box the B-17 came in?"

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Exactly and since it was pushed out so quickly is where the problems came into effect such as the wings and so forth.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Exactly and since it was pushed out so quickly is where the problems came into effect such as the wings and so forth.

Yep - and it seems similar things happened on the B-32 but I think in the long run it would of been a formatible bomber. Could you imangine B-32s over Germany in the fall of 1944?

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Dont really want to imagine it.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

True, 250% the bomb load of a B-24

 

[DaveB.inVa]

Ive always thought the B-32 and B-36 look very similar. If you look at pictures of the very first B-32's with their glazed nose and the very first B-36's glazed nose you will see they are nearly identical. As a side note the B-32 originally came with twin tails, this proved unstable. A B-32 was then tried with a B-29 tail and was also unstable resulting in the 19 or so foot monster tail production versions came with.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Interesting

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Was that out of the B-32 book?

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Sounds about right though.

 

[DaveB.inVa]

Its mentioned in the book but there are more pictures of the XB-32 with the twin tails and the B-29 tail available on the internet.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I have only seen pics of it with the B-29 tail and I think that is what makes her so unique.

 

[DaveB.inVa]

Here are 3 views of the B-32 tail evolution. They were obtained from www.military.cz/usa/air/war/bomber/b32/b32_en.htm

 

[FLYBOYJ]

It looks a little more "sane" with that B-29 tail, although I like the XB-32 with twin tails.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yeah I like it better with the B-29 tail.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

That big tail makes it look like a schooner!

 

[cheddar cheese]

I prefer the twin-tailed version.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Naw the twin tails look funny on it.