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Aviation History
1940
1940 - 1229.PDF
APRIL 25, 1940 391 The working platforms which are being used for the construction of the vast wing of the Douglas B19. Following usual modernprocedure, the wing is being built in the vertical position, and its outline is shown superimposed on the photograph. WORLD'S LARGEST BOMBER America's 210 //. Span Giant INFORMATION has been released by the U.S. WarDepartment relating to the very large bomber,known as the B19, being built by the Douglas Air- craft Company at Santa Monica. Its gross weight of approximately 70 tons (157,000 1b.) will make it easily the largest aeroplane ever built, and with its wing span of 210ft. it should be an impressive sight. Its speed, with four engines totalling about 6,000 h.p., is given as 200 m.p.h. Its airscrews will be three-bladed constant-speed of 16 ft. diameter, and the undercarriage will be of the nosewheel type. The figure of 28 tons given for its disposable load (fuel, crew, and military load) is 40 per cent, of its loaded weight and is above the corresponding figure for commercial transports of latest design. The Lockheed Lodestar shows 33.7 and the Douglas DC3 a ratio of 32.7 per cent., which makes one a little sceptical of the 40 per cent, of the very much bigger B19. One is even more sceptical of its value as a mili- The rear section of the fuselage of the Douglas B19 bomber, under con- struction in the company's Santa Monica works. With a wing span of 210ft. and a gross weight of 70 tons, rt will dwarf all other air- craft. The colossal pro- portions of the single fin may be seen, and the tailplane appears as large as the wing of many a transport aeroplane. There appears to be a circular ™r,r.et opening in the top «the fuselage. Note the screens hung from the roof for secrecy tary weapon, considering its very great cost and its very great vulnerability to gunfire. Its power loading of about 26 Ib./h.p. seems very high, and does not augur a good take-off and climb. One wonders if there is thought of refuelling in the air. Some idea of the size of this giant bomber—the name is for once justified—can be obtained by comparing its dimensions with those of our biggest air liner, the Ensign, whose span is 123ft. and gross weight 48,500 lb. The Dornier DoX had a span of 157ft. and gross weight of 123,000 lb., with a power of 7,200 h.p. The contract for the construction of the B19 was signed some five years ago.
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