XB-38 Flying Fortress
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The XB-38 Flying Fortress was a prototype US bomber aircraft of World War II. It was the result of a modification project undertaken by Boeing and Vega (a subsidiary of Lockheed) on a B-17 Flying Fortress to fit it with Allison V-1710-89 engines. It was meant as an improved version of the B-17, and a variant that could be used if the Wright R-1820 engine became scarce. Completing the modifications took less than a year, and the XB-38 made its first flight on May 19 1943.
While it showed a slightly higher top speed, after a few flights it had to be grounded due to a problem with engine manifold joints leaking exhaust. Following the fixing of this problem, testing continued until the ninth flight on June 16 1943. During this flight, the third (right inboard) engine caught fire, and the crew was forced to bail out. The XB-38 was destroyed and the project cancelled, in part because the V-1710 engines were needed for other projects, especially the vital P-38 Lightning and P-40 Warhawk fighters.
Specifications (XB-38)
References and external links
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