Boeing XB-15 - heavy bomber prototype

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: XC-105 1943/1944

: XB-15 tail 2

: XB-15 tail

: XB-15 at Felts Field, Spokane, 11 MAy 1939

: XB-15 BB89 of the 2nd Bombardment Group

: XB-15 front

: XB-15 in test flight 2

: XB-15 in flight over Lake Washington

: XB-15 1938

: Heavy bomber XB-15 1937 2

: Boeing XB-15 1937

: XB-15 had been camouflaged with Olive Drab, Dark Green and Light Blue

: XB-15 parked on an airstrip

: XB-15 of the 41st Reconnaissance Squadron, 1941

: Boeing XB-15 35-277 16 November 1937

: Bomber XB-15 engines cowlings, 28 April 1937

: Boeing XB-15 code BB89 of the 2nd Bombardment Group

: XB-15 Cleveland in 1937

: XB-15 of 49th Bomb Squadron at Selfridge Field 1939

: Boeing XB-15 35-277 2

: XB-15 Boeing factory 1937

: Heavy Bomber XB-15 landing gear

: Boeing XB-15 with Boeing P-26

: Heavy Bomber XB-15 in flight

The Boeing XB-15 (Model 294, XBLR-1, XC-105) “hemisphere defender” was designed in 1934 as a test bed for the USAAC. Bomber made its maiden flight on IS October 1937.
Serial: 35-277
Boeing c/n: 1964
Specifications :

crew	10
Length	26,7m (87ft 7in)
Span	45,5 m (149ft)
Height	5,5 m (18ft 1in)
Wing area	258 m2 (2,780 sq ft)
Empty weight	29,484kg (65,000 lb)
Loaded weight	31,298 kg (69,000 lb)
Max. take-off weight	34,927 kg (77,000 lb)
Powerplant	Pratt & Whitney R-1830-11 Twin Wasp, 14-cylinder, air cooled, radial engines, 850hp (640kW), 1000 hp for take-off
Max speed	320 km/h (200 mph)
Cruise speed	245 km/h (152 mph) at 1828 m
Combat radius	5500 km (3,400 miles)
Service ceiling	5760 m (18900 ft)
Rate of climb	3,4 m/s (670 ft/min)
Armament	3 x 7,62 mm (0.30in), 3 x 12,7 mm (0.50in), 5400 kg (12,000 lb) bombs

Bibliography:

Peter M. Bowers – Boeing Aircraft since 1916, Putnam Aviation Series 1989
Bill Yenne – The Story of the Boeing Company, Updated Edition
Lloyd S. Jones: U.S. Bombers
Kev Darling: American X & Y Planes, Volume 1 – Experimental Aircraft to 1945, Crowood 2010
International Air Power Review Volume 5, AIRtime Publishing