B-25 Mitchell part 2

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General Description

  • Type: Twin-engined medium bomber.

Wings

  • Configuration: Mid-wing cantilever monoplane.
  • Construction:
    • All-metal with five sections: a two-spar center-section, two outer single-spar sections, and two detachable wingtips.
    • Fuel and Oil Tanks: Integral with the center-section structure.
    • Flotation Compartments: Sealed compartments in outer wings for flotation.
    • Ailerons: Sealed type with fixed and controllable trimming-tabs.
    • Flaps: Hydraulically operated slotted trailing-edge flaps inboard of ailerons, divided by engine nacelles. Fairings hinge upward to form a continuous slot when flaps are lowered.

Fuselage

  • Structure: Semi-monocoque with four longerons, constructed from aluminum-alloy.
  • Design: The portion of the fuselage above the bottom surface of the center-section and between the front spar and trailing edge is attached to and removable with the center-section.

Tail Unit

  • Type: Cantilever monoplane with twin fins and rudders.
  • Control Surfaces: Elevators and rudders fitted with fixed and controllable trimming-tabs.

Landing Gear

  • Type: Tricycle with fully retractable wheels.
  • Mechanism:
    • Main wheels retract aft into the engine nacelles, and the nose wheel and tail-skid into the fuselage.
    • Doors cover all openings when wheels are both retracted and extended.
    • Retraction: Hydraulic, with a mechanically-operated emergency system.
    • Features: Swiveling nose-wheel with shimmy damper, centering device, and lock. Hydraulic brakes on main wheels.

Power Plant

  • Engines: Two Wright Cyclone R-2600-13 two-row radial air-cooled engines with two-speed superchargers.
  • Nacelles: Semi-monocoque nacelles mounted below the center-section extremities.
  • Propellers: Three-bladed Hamilton-Standard constant-speed full-feathering airscrews with anti-icers.
  • Fuel System:
    • Independent for each engine, with bullet-proof self-sealing fuel cells.
    • Two interconnected fore and aft compartments per engine located between fuselage and nacelles.
    • Additional auxiliary fuel cells in the center-section and a self-sealing tank in the fuselage above the bomb-bay.
    • Self-sealing fuel lines throughout wings and fuselage.
    • Provision for a droppable long-range ferry tank in the bomb-bay.
  • Oil System: Independent for each engine.

Accommodation

  • Crew: Provision for four to six members, all positions armored.
  • Features: Heating, ventilation systems, radio equipment, oxygen supply.

Armament

  • Bomb Bay: Located in the fuselage beneath the wings, capable of accommodating bombs, depth-charges, or a torpedo.
  • Internal Load: Maximum of 3,000 lbs of bombs.
  • External Load: Provision for 2,400 lbs of bombs on external wing racks. A 2,150 lb torpedo can also be carried, only partly enclosed in the bomb-bay.

Dimensions

  • Span: 67 ft. 7 in. (20.6 m).
  • Length: 53 ft. 5.5 in. (16.13 m).
  • Height: 16 ft. 4.5 in. (4.6 m).
  • Wing Area: 609.8 sq. ft. (56.6 sq. m.).

Weights

  • Empty Weight: 21,100 lbs. (9,580 kg).
  • Loaded Weight: 33,500 lbs. (15,210 kg).

Performance

  • Maximum Speed: 303 mph (485 km/h) at 13,000 ft (3,965 m).
  • Landing Speed: 95 mph (152 km/h).
  • Climb: To 15,000 ft (4,575 m) in 11.3 minutes.
  • Service Ceiling: 24,200 ft (7,380 m).