Keystone XLB-3
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| XLB-3 | |
|---|---|
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| XLB-3A | |
| Role | Light bomberTemplate:Short description |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | Keystone Aircraft |
| First flight | ca. December 1927 |
| Primary user | United States Army Air Corps |
| Number built | 1 |
The Keystone XLB-3 (originally built under the Huff-Daland name) was a prototype bomber biplane developed in the United States in the late 1920s. It was a twin-engine development of the single-engine LB-1, brought about by a change in policy by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC).
Design and development
The shift from a nose-mounted engine to engines mounted in nacelles on the lower wing created an opportunity to provide stations for two extra crewmembers: a bombardier and a nose-gunner, bringing the total to five. The LB-1's single tailfin and rudder was augmented by an extra rudder either side of it.
Operational history
A single prototype was constructed, and delivered to the USAAC for evaluation at the end of 1927. Evaluation, however, showed that performance was actually inferior to that of the single-engine LB-1. The decision was taken to change the XLB-3's air-cooled inverted Liberty engines for air-cooled radials, at which point it was redesignated XLB-3A. With performance still unsatisfactory, development was abandoned in favor of a parallel design, the LB-5.
Variants
- XLB-3 – original version with Allison VG-1410 air-cooled inverted V-12 engines (1 built)
- XLB-3A – version with Pratt & Whitney R-1340 radial engines (1 converted from XLB-3)
Specifications (XLB-3A)
Data from Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Five – pilot, copilot, bombardier, two gunnersTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/convertTemplate:Aircraft specs/convertTemplate:Aircraft specs/convertTemplate:Aircraft specs/convertTemplate:Aircraft specs/convertTemplate:Aircraft specs/convertTemplate:Aircraft specs/convertTemplate:Aircraft specs/engTemplate:Aircraft specs/engTemplate:Aircraft specs/engTemplate:Aircraft specs/lengthTemplate:Aircraft specs/convertTemplate:Aircraft specs/length
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Armament
- 2 × trainable .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns in open position in nose
- 2 × trainable .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis guns in open dorsal position
- 1 × trainable .303 in (7.7 mm) Lewis gun in ventral hatch
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References
Notes
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- ↑ Taylor 1989, p. 559.
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Bibliography
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- Taylor, Michael J. H. Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions, 1989.
- World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing, File 899, Sheet 09.
External links
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- National Museum of the USAF XLB-3 fact sheet
- National Museum of the USAF XLB-3A fact sheet
- American Bombing Aircraft
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