Boeing TB
{{Short description|American torpedo bomber biplane prototype}}
__NOTOC__
{{Infobox aircraft
|name=TB
|image=
|caption=
|type=Torpedo bomber
|manufacturer=Boeing
|designer=
|first_flight=4 May 1927{{harvnb|Bowers|1966|p=63}}
|introduction=
|retired=
|status=
|primary_user=
|more_users=
|produced=
|developed_from=Martin T3M
|number_built=3
|program cost=$199,000
|variants=
}}
The Boeing TB (or Model 63) was an American torpedo bomber biplane designed by the US Navy and built by Boeing in 1927.
Development and design
The TB was an improved version of the Martin T3M. It was constructed of all dural, with a fabric covering. The equal-span wings were large and unstaggered, and could be folded aft, reducing the span to {{convert|21|ft|8|in|m}} for storage. The wheeled undercarriage was a conventional configuration that could be interchanged with floats. As a landplane, the main gear units carried twin wheels. The underside of the fuselage incorporated a glazed station for the bombardier.
Even before the three XTB-1s were delivered, the Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics had changed its opinion about what was needed in a torpedo bomber, and based on experience with the NAF XTN-1 had decided that a twin-engine aircraft would better suit the role. Having thus been made redundant, no TBs past the three prototypes were built.
Specifications
File:Boeing_TB-1_3-view_L'Aéronautique_October,1927.png
{{Aircraft specs
|ref={{harvnb|Bowers|1966|p=63}}
|prime units? = imp
|crew=Three - pilot, gunner, and bombardier
|length m=12.45
|length ft=40
|length in=10
|span m=16.76
|span ft=55
|span in=0
|height m=4.12
|height ft=13
|height in=6
|wing area sqm=80.6
|wing area sqft=868
|empty weight kg=2,558
|empty weight lb=5,640
|gross weight kg=4,339
|gross weight lb=9,786
|eng1 number=1
|eng1 name=Packard 3A-2500
|eng1 kw=544
|eng1 hp=730
|max speed kmh=185
|max speed mph=115
|range km=1,413
|range miles=878
|ceiling m=3,810
|ceiling ft=12,500
|climb rate ms=3.8
|climb rate ftmin=754
|armament = *1 × fixed, forward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) M1919 Browning machine gun
- 1 × trainable, rearward-firing .30 in (7.62 mm) Browning machine gun
- 1 × Bliss-Leavitt torpedo
}}
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
|lists=
|see also=
}}
References
{{Reflist}}
- {{Cite book |last= Bowers |first= Peter M. |title=Boeing aircraft since 1916 | place=London |publisher=Putnam Aeronautical Books |year=1966}}
- {{cite book |last= Taylor |first= Michael J. H. |title=Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation |year=1989 |publisher=Studio Editions |location=London |page=170 }}
- {{cite book |title=World Aircraft Information Files |publisher=Bright Star Publishing|location=London |pages=File 890 Sheet 52 }}
{{Boeing model numbers}}
{{USN torpedo aircraft}}