Designed by the company as its Model 74, the plane was an incremental improvement over the F2B. The Navy-designated prototype XF3B-1 still had the tapered wings of the F2B for instance, but was built as a single-float seaplane using the FB-5 undercarriage. However, the growing use of aircraft carriers took away most of the need for floating fighters, and by the time other test results had been taken into account, the production F3B-1 (Model 77) had a larger upper wing that was slightly swept back and a redesigned tail with surfaces made from corrugated aluminum.[2] It also eliminated the spreader bar arrangement of the undercarriage and revised the vertical tail shape.[3]
Operational historyedit
It first flew on 3 February 1928, turning in a respectable performance and garnering Boeing a contract for 73 more. F3Bs served as fighter-bombers for some four years with the squadrons VF-2B aboard USS Langley, VB-2B aboard USS Saratoga (later VF-6B), and VB-1B on USS Lexington,[1][3] during which period some were fitted with Townend rings and others with streamlined wheel fairings.[2] The aircraft remained in first-line service to 1932 and were then retained as "hacks" (command and staff transports) for several more years.[3]
Eden, Paul and Soph Moeng, eds. The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft. London: Amber Books, 2002. ISBN0-7607-3432-1.
Jones, Lloyd S. U.S. Naval Fighters. Fallbrook, California: Aero Publishers, 1977. ISBN0-8168-9254-7.
Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers. United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911. Annapolis, Maryland: Naval Institute Press, 1976. ISBN0-87021-968-5.
External linksedit
April 13, 2024
boeing, biplane, fighter, fighter, bomber, that, served, with, united, states, navy, from, 1928, into, early, 1930s, navy, photorole, carrier, based, fighter, bombermanufacturer, boeingfirst, flight, february, 1928introduction, august, 1928, primary, user, uni. The Boeing F3B was a biplane fighter and fighter bomber that served with the United States Navy from 1928 into the early 1930s F3BBoeing F3B 1 U S Navy PhotoRole Carrier based Fighter BomberManufacturer BoeingFirst flight 3 February 1928Introduction August 1928 1 Primary user United States NavyNumber built 74 including the prototype 1 Developed from Boeing F2B FB 5 Contents 1 Design and development 2 Operational history 3 Variants 4 Operators 5 Specifications F3B 1 6 See also 7 References 7 1 Notes 7 2 Bibliography 8 External linksDesign and development editDesigned by the company as its Model 74 the plane was an incremental improvement over the F2B The Navy designated prototype XF3B 1 still had the tapered wings of the F2B for instance but was built as a single float seaplane using the FB 5 undercarriage However the growing use of aircraft carriers took away most of the need for floating fighters and by the time other test results had been taken into account the production F3B 1 Model 77 had a larger upper wing that was slightly swept back and a redesigned tail with surfaces made from corrugated aluminum 2 It also eliminated the spreader bar arrangement of the undercarriage and revised the vertical tail shape 3 Operational history editIt first flew on 3 February 1928 turning in a respectable performance and garnering Boeing a contract for 73 more F3Bs served as fighter bombers for some four years with the squadrons VF 2B aboard USS Langley VB 2B aboard USS Saratoga later VF 6B and VB 1B on USS Lexington 1 3 during which period some were fitted with Townend rings and others with streamlined wheel fairings 2 The aircraft remained in first line service to 1932 and were then retained as hacks command and staff transports for several more years 3 Variants editXF3B 1 Model 74 One prototype serial number A7674 1 F3B 1 Model 77 Single seat fighter biplane for the US Navy 73 aircraft serial numbers A7675 A7691 A7708 A7763 1 Operators edit nbsp United StatesUnited States NavySpecifications F3B 1 editData from The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft 3 General characteristicsCrew 1 Length 24 ft 10 in 7 57 m Wingspan 33 ft 0 in 10 06 m Height 9 ft 2 in 2 79 m Wing area 275 sq ft 25 55 m2 Empty weight 2 179 lb 988 kg Max takeoff weight 2 945 lb 1 336 kg Powerplant 1 Pratt amp Whitney R 1340 80 Wasp radial engine 425 hp 317 kW Performance Maximum speed 157 mph 253 km h 137 kn Cruise speed 131 mph 211 km h 114 kn Range 340 mi 547 km 296 nmi Service ceiling 21 500 ft 6 555 m Rate of climb 2 020 ft min 10 26 m s Armament Guns Two 0 3 in 7 62mm forward firing Browning machine guns in the forward fuselage Bombs Five 25 lb 11 3 kg bombs carried under the fuselage and lower wingSee also edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boeing F3B Related development Boeing F2B Boeing Model 15Related lists List of military aircraft of the United States List of fighter aircraftReferences editNotes edit a b c d e Swanborough and Bowers 1976 p 61 a b Jones 1977 pp 60 62 a b c d Eden and Moeng 2002 p 319 Bibliography edit Eden Paul and Soph Moeng eds The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft London Amber Books 2002 ISBN 0 7607 3432 1 Jones Lloyd S U S Naval Fighters Fallbrook California Aero Publishers 1977 ISBN 0 8168 9254 7 Swanborough Gordon and Peter M Bowers United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911 Annapolis Maryland Naval Institute Press 1976 ISBN 0 87021 968 5 External links editBoeing F3B 1s on carrier deck Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Boeing F3B amp oldid 1214319899, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
