Boeing XF8B-1

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Boeing XF8B-1

First prototype XF8B-1 , BuNo 57984 in test by USAAF, 1945
Type	Fighter
Manufacturer	Boeing Aircraft Ltd
Designed by	R. (Dick) Stith
Maiden flight	27 November 1944
Retired	Cancelled
Status	Scrapped 1950 (third prototype)
Primary users	U.S. Navy U.S. Army Air Forces U.S. Air Force
Number built	3

The Boeing F8B was developed during World War II to provide the U.S. Navy a long-range shipboard fighter aircraft for operation against the Japanese home islands from aircraft carriers outside the range of Japanese land-based aircraft. It was intended for various roles including interceptor, long-range escort fighter, dive-bomber and torpedo bomber.

1 Design and development
2 Testing
3 Specifications (Boeing XF8B-1)
4 References
5 Related content

[edit] Design and development

The Boeing Model 400 or XF8B-1 was, at the time, the largest and heaviest single-seat, single-engine fighter developed in the United States. Boeing optimistically called the XF8B-1 the "Five-in-one fighter" (fighter, interceptor, dive bomber, torpedo or horizontal bomber). It was powered by a single twenty-eight cylinder Pratt & Whitney XR-4360-10 3,000 hp (2.2 MW) radial "Corncob" air-cooled engine mounted as a "power-egg" that drove two contra-rotating, three blade propellors. The large wings were designed for folded upward outer sections while the fuselage incorporated an internal bomb bay, large fuel cells with extra fuel able to be carried externally. The proposed armament included six 0.50 inch (12.7 mm) machine guns or six 20 mm wing mounted cannons and a 6,400 lb (2,900 kg) bomb load or two 2,000 lb (900 kg) torpedoes. The final configuration was a large, but streamlined design, featuring a bubble canopy, sturdy main undercarriage that folded up into the wings, topped by a stylish variation on the B-29 vertical tail.

The development of three prototypes (BuNos 57984/S7986) began in May 1943 although only one was completed before the war ended. The two remaining prototypes were completed after the war, with the first prototype (BuNo 57984) evaluated at Wright Field by the U.S. Army Air Force.

XF8B-I BuNo 57986 wearing overall Glossy Sea Blue camouflage was photographed on 12 December 1946

[edit] Testing

Although testing of the promising XF8B-I concept continued into 1946 by the USAAF and 1947 by the US Navy, the end of the war in the Pacific and changing postwar strategy required that Boeing concentrate on building land-based large bombers and transports. The advent of jet fighters, led to the cancellation of many wartime piston-engined projects, consequently, neither the US Navy nor the USAF had an interest in pursuing the project. As the test program was concluded, one by one, the prototypes were scrapped with 57986 lingering on into 1950.

[edit] Specifications (Boeing XF8B-1)

[edit] General characteristics

Crew: one, pilot
Length: 43 ft 3 in (13.1 m)
Wingspan: 54 ft (16.5 m)
Height: 16 ft 3 in (5.0)
Wing area: 489 ft² (45.4 m²)
Empty: 13,519 lb (6,132 kg)
Loaded: 20,508 lb (9,302 kg)
Maximum takeoff: 21,691 lb (9,839 kg)
Powerplant: Pratt & Whitney XR-4360-10 28-cylinder radial, 3,000 hp (2,240 kW)

[edit] Performance

Maximum speed: 340 mph (550 km/h)
Range: 2,280 miles (3669 km)
Service ceiling: 37,500 ft (11,400 m)
Rate of climb: 2,800 ft/min (850 m/min) initial
Power/mass: 0.15 hp/lb (0.24 kW/kg)

[edit] Armament

6× 0.50 in (12.7 mm) or 6× 20 mm wing mounted guns
6,400 lb (2900 kg) bomb load or 2× 2,000 lb (900 kg) torpedoes

[edit] References

Green, William. War Planes of the Second World War - Fighters (Vol 4). London: Macdonald, 1961.
Koehnen, Rick. Boeing XF8B-1 Five-in-One (Naval Fighters Number 65). Simi Valley, CA: Steve Ginter Publishing, 1975. ISBN 0-94261-265-5.
Koehnen, Richard C. "XF8B-1... Last of the Breed: Boeing's Five-in-One Fighter." Airpower, Vol. 5, no. 4, July 1975.
Pedigree of Champions: Boeing Since 1916, Third Edition. Seattle, WA: The Boeing Company, 1969.
Zichek, Jared A. The Boeing XF8B-1 Fighter: Last of the Line. Atglen, PA: Schiffer Publishing, 2007. ISBN 0-76432-587-6.