The RB-1 Conestoga was a twin-engine, stainless steel cargo aircraft developed for the United States Navy during World War II by the Budd Company in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
It never saw combat, but it introduced design innovations that would be used in future American military cargo aircraft.
At the start of the war, there were concerns about an aluminium shortage, prompting the government to seek aircraft designs using “non-strategic materials,” typically wood.
However, the Budd Company, with its background in designing and building railway passenger cars, chose to use spot-welded stainless steel instead of the traditional riveted aluminium.
The initial 1942 orders for 200 units from the Navy and 600 from the Army seemed promising for the Conestoga.
But the anticipated aluminium shortage did not occur, and due to rising costs and production delays, the orders were drastically cut, leaving only 25 for the Navy.
Ultimately, only 17 aircraft were constructed, with all but one being sent directly to storage and sold as surplus.
Specifications
Crew
3
Capacity
9,600 lb (4,400 kg) of payload with 390 US gal (320 imp gal; 1,500 l) of fuel
Length
68 ft (21 m)
Wingspan
100 feet (30 m)
Height
31 ft 9 in (9.68 m)
Wing area
1,400 sq ft (130 m2)
Empty weight
20,156 lb (9,143 kg)
Gross weight
33,860 lb (15,359 kg)
Fuel capacity
994 US gal (828 imp gal; 3,760 l) in three wing tanks
Powerplant
2 × Pratt & Whitney R-1830-92 Twin Wasp,
14-cylinder air cooled radial engines,
1,200 hp (890 kW) each
Propellers
3-bladed Hamilton Standard Hydromatic,
11 ft 7 in (3.53 m) diameter constant speed fully feathering propellers.
Performance
Maximum speed
197 mph (317 km/h, 171 kn) at 7,500 ft (2,300 m)
Cruise speed
165 mph (266 km/h, 143 kn)
Stall speed
78 mph (126 km/h, 68 kn) fully loaded
Range
700 mi (1,100 km, 610 nmi) normal
Maximum economic range
1,620 mi (1,410 nmi; 2,610 km).
Sources
U. S. Warplanes of World War II-R Merriam.
Pima Air & Space Museum, 6000 E Valencia Rd, Tucson, Arizona, USA.
