North American XB-21
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The North American XB-21 (North American NA-21) was a prototype bomber aircraft evaluated by the United States Army Air Corps in 1937 but not ordered into production. The North American assigned model number was NA-21.
The aircraft first flew on December 22 1936 and the type was promising enough for the Air Corps to initially place an order for five YB-21 pre-production machines. All these were cancelled, however, when it was found that Douglas' comparable B-18 Bolo was available for around half the price ($63,977 against $122,600). Consequently, no aircraft other than the single initial prototype were built.
[edit] Specifications (XB-21)
General characteristics
- Crew: 6-8
- Length: 61 ft 9 in (18.8 m)
- Wingspan: 95 ft 0 in (29.0 m)
- Height: 14 ft 9 in (4.50 m)
- Wing area: 1,120 ft² (104 m²)
- Empty weight: 19,082 lb (8,674 kg)
- Loaded weight: 27,253 lb (12,388 kg)
- Max takeoff weight: 40,000 lb (18,000 kg)
- Powerplant: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-2180-1 radial engines, 1,200 hp (900 kW) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 220 mph (190 kt, 350 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m)
- Cruise speed: 190 mph (165 kt, 310 km/h)
- Range: 1,960 mi (1,700 nm, 3,140 km) combat, 3,100 mi (2,700 nm, 5,000 km) ferry
- Service ceiling: 25,000 ft (7,600 m)
- Rate of climb: 1,000 ft/min (5 m/s)
- Wing loading: 24.3 lb/ft² (119 kg/m²)
- Power/mass: 0.088 hp/lb (140 kW/kg)
Armament
- Guns: 5× .303 in (7.70 mm) Browning machine guns
- Bombs: 8,800 lb (4,000 kg)
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