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Aviation History
1943
1943 - 0238.PDF
FLIGHT Thirty-third of the New Recognition Series Aircraft Types and DOUGLAS B-19 FEW new aircraft created such world-wide interest asdid the advent of the Douglas B-19, a machine whichreally did merit the use of that somewhat overworked phrase, "giant bomber," since it was the world's largestaircraft by quite a useful margin. The original contract for its construction was signed in1935 and, though the difficulty of keeping such an enor- mous object a secret can well be imagined, work wenton behind huge canvas screens draped from the roof trusses of the Douglas factory at Santa Monica. An interestingpoint about the methods employed in construction was that the mighty wing, spanning 212ft., and the centre sectionof the fuselage, were built up in a vertical position and afterwards lowered into the horizontal for assembly withthe nose and tail sections. It is of all-metal, aluminium alloy stressed skin construc-tion, and, with its large but graceful single fin and rudder, is typically Douglas in appearance. Being designed formilitary purposes, its fuselage is slim and the high aspect- ratio wings are backswept on the leading-edge to verysmall, rounded tips, the trailing-edge being straight. The tailplane, however, is of only moderate aspect-ratio, and with a medium degree of taper to comparatively broad,round tips. A tricycle undercarriage is employed, the main wheels retracting inwards into recesses beneath the wings. The B-19 is powered by four 18-cylinder Wright Duplex-Cyclones each developing some 2,000 h.p. for take-off, and although their combined maximum output is none toomuch to cope with the 140,000 lb. loaded weight of this aircraft, the makers' idea was that by the time they had'' got the bugs out'' of this new monster, engines of even greater horse-power would be available. Incidentally, theengines of the B-19 axe attached to their nacelles at nine points by the cylinder heads of one row of cylinders, thenacelles being sheet-metal structures without internal brac- ing. This dynamic suspension mounting incorporatessmall links to allow for expansion. Top speed is over 225 m.p.h., cruising speed over 200 m.p.h., service ceiling over20,000ft., and maximum range nearly 6,000 miles. When it made its maiden flight in the summer of 1941,the insurance premium for the first minute was said to have been ^20,500, the machine being covered for£250,000. After the first minute the rate dropped to £750 per hour. Top speed : Over 225 m.p.h. ALL LARGE AREA TWO UPPERTURRETS DIMENSIONS Span Length Height .. Wing area OF B-19 .. 212ft. Oin. .. 132ft. 4in. 42ft. Oin. .. 3J00 sq.ft. STRAIGHTTRAILING EDGE PRONOUNCEDSWEEP BACK TRICYCLEUNDERCARRIAGE
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