Convair XB-53

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"B-53" redirects here. For the nuclear bomb, see B53 nuclear bomb.

Convair XB-53

An artists conception of the Convair XB-53. Drawn by Rod of Isphpening, Michigan for the Aviation Enthusiast's Corner.
Type	Attack aircraft
Manufacturer	Convair
Maiden flight	n/a
Status	Cancelled in 1949
Primary user	United States Air Force
Number built	0

The Convair XB-53 was a stillborn jet bomber project by Convair for the United States Army Air Forces. Originally, it was designated XA-44 in 1945 under the old "attack" category. An unusual forward-swept wing-design powered by three J35-GE turbojets, the project was developed in parallel with Convair's XB-46. It would have a German-derived wing with a 30° forward-sweep and 8° of dihedral. It looked promising enough at one point that the Army Air Force considered cancelling the XB-46 in favor of the XA-44 since there was not enough funding for both. Convair argued for completion of the XB-46 prototype as a flying testbed sans armament and other equipment and substitution of two XA-44s for the other two B-46 airframes on contract. The Air Force ratified this in June 1946 but the project did not progress, nor were additional B-46s built. The XA-44 was redesignated XB-53 in 1948 when the "attack" category was dropped but the project was cancelled before the two prototypes were completed. The XA-44 program was reinstated in February 1949 but only for a short while.

1 Specifications (as designed)
2 References
3 External links
4 Related content

[edit] Specifications (as designed)

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General characteristics

Crew: 4
Length: 79 ft 6 in (24.2 m)
Wingspan: 80 ft 7 in (24.6 m)
Height: 23 ft 8 in (7.22 m)
Max takeoff weight: 60,000 lb (27,000 kg)
Powerplant: 3× General Electric J35 turbojets, 4,000 lbf (18 kN) each

Performance (estimated)

Maximum speed: 580 mph (500 knots, 930 km/h)
Range: 2,000 mi (1,700 nm, 3,200 km)
Service ceiling: 44,000 ft (13,400 m)

Armament

Bombs: 12,000 lb (5,400 kg)

[edit] References

Andrade, John M. (1979). U.S. Military Aircraft Designations and Serials since 1909. Earl Shilton, Leicester: Midland Counties Publications. ISBN 0-904597-22-9.
Knaack, Marcelle Size (1988). Encyclopedia of U.S. Air Force Aircraft and Missile Systems, Volume II - Post-World War II Bombers 1945-1973. Washington, D.C.: Office of Air Force History, USAF. ISBN 0-912799-59-5.