The Douglas Aircraft Company produced the Douglas XB-19, a heavy bomber with four piston-driven engines for the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in the early 1940s.
Originally designated XBLR-2, the design was created to test flight characteristics and design techniques for giant bombers.
Despite technological advancements that rendered the XB-19 obsolete before it was completed, the Army Air Corps believed that the prototype would be useful for testing.
However, Douglas Aircraft wanted to cancel the expensive project. The plane first flew on June 27, 1941, more than three years after the construction contract was awarded.
Although it was the most oversized bomber built for the USAAF until 1946, the Convair B-36 surpassed its size.
The XB-19 was based at Wright Field from January to November 1942.
In 1943, the Wright R-3350 engines were replaced with liquid-cooled W24 Allison V-3420-11 by the aircraft division of Fisher Body in support of the XB-39 project.
As part of the program, it was equipped with engine-driven auxiliary power plants.
After testing was completed, the XB-19 was supposed to be converted into a cargo aircraft, but modifications were never finished.
The aircraft made its last flight on August 17, 1946, and was eventually scrapped at Tucson in June 1949.
Specifications XB-19 Crew 16 combat crew, with provision for 2 additional flight mechanics and a six-man relief crew. Length 132 ft 4 in (40.34 m). Wingspan 212 ft 0 in (64.62 m). Height 42 ft 0 in (12.80 m). Wing area 4,285 sq ft (398.1 m2). Empty weight 86,000 lb (39,009 kg). Gross weight 140,000 lb (63,503 kg). Max take-off weight 162,000 lb (73,482 kg). Fuel capacity 10,350 US gal (8,620 imp gal; 39,200 L),
Internals with optional auxiliary tanks of 824 US gal (686 imp gal; 3,120 L) capacity. Powerplant 4 × Wright R-3350-5 Duplex Cyclone,
18-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 2,000 hp (1,500 kW) each. Propellers 3-bladed constant-speed metal propellers,
17 ft 0 in (5.18 m) diameter. Performance Maximum speed 224 mph (360 km/h, 195 kn) at 15,700 ft (4,800 m). Cruise speed 135 mph (217 km/h, 117 kn). Range 5,200 mi (8,400 km, 4,500 nmi). Ferry range 7,710 mi (12,410 km, 6,700 nmi) with auxiliary tanks fitted. Service ceiling 23,000 ft (7,000 m). Rate of climb 650 ft/min (3.3 m/s). Wing loading 32.6 lb/sq ft (159 kg/m2). Power/mass 0.057 hp/lb (0.094 kW/kg). Armament Guns 5 × 0.5 in (12.70 mm) M2 Browning machine guns, 6 × 0.3 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine guns, 2 × 37 mm (1.457 in) M4 autocannon. Bombs 18,700 lb (8,500 kg) internal,
Maximum bomb load of 37,100 lb (16,800 kg),
Including external racks with reduced fuel load.
Sources American X Y Planes, Volume 1, Experimental Aircraft to 1945-K.Darling. Douglas XB-19: An Illustrated History of America’s Would-Be Intercontinental Bomber-William Wolf. McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920, Volume 2-René J Francillon. San Diego Air and Space Museum Archive. The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force.
