Douglas XB-19

Template:Infobox Aircraft The Douglas XB-19 was the largest bomber built for the United States Army Air Corps until 1946. It was originally given the designation XBLR-2 (XBLR- denoting Experimental Bomber, Long Range).

The purpose of the XB-19 project was to test the flight characteristics and design techniques associated with giant bombers. Douglas Aircraft Company strongly wanted to cancel the project, because it was extremely expensive. Despite advances in technology that made the XB-19 obsolete before it was even completed, the Army Air Corps felt that the prototype would be useful for testing. Its construction took so long that competition for the contracts to make the XB-35 and XB-36 occurred two months before its first flight.

The plane finally flew on June 27 1941, more than three years after the construction contract was awarded. In 1943, the original Wright R-3350 engines were replaced with Allison V-3420-11 V engines. After completion of testing, the XB-19 served as a cargo carrier until it was scrapped in 1949.

Specifications (XB-19A)

General characteristics

• Crew: 18

Performance Armament

• Guns:
  
  • 5× .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns
  • 6× .30 in (7.62 mm) machine guns
  • 2× 37 mm (1.42 in) cannon
• Bombs: 18,700 lb (8,480 kg)

External links

• Encyclopedia of American aircraft
• USAF Museum description of B-19
• USAF Museum description of B-19A

Related content

Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era

• Boeing XB-15
• Boeing Y1B-20
• Convair B-36

Related lists

• List of bomber aircraft
• List of military aircraft of the United States