Boeing NB

NB
Boeing NB-1
Role	Military trainer
Manufacturer	Boeing
First flight	20 October 1923
Number built	ca. 72

TheBoeing NB(orModel 21) was a primary training aircraft developed for the United States Navy in 1923. It was a two-bay, equal-span biplane of conventional configuration with interchangeable wheeled and float undercarriage. The pilot and instructor sat in tandem, open cockpits.

The NBs were produced in two batches; the first (NB-1) were powered by radial engines and the second by war-surplus V-8s still in the Navy's inventory. The original prototype evaluated by the Navy had been assessed as being too easy to fly, and therefore of limited use as a trainer. In particular, it was noted that the aircraft was impossible to spin. The NB-1 design attempted to introduce some instability, but it was soon discovered that while it was now possible to get the aircraft into a spin, it was virtually impossible to recover from one. A series of modifications were made to attempt a compromise.

Variants

An NB-1 floatplane at theNational Advisory Committee for Aeronautics,in 1926.

• VNB-1- prototype (one built)
• NB-1- original production machine withLawrance J-1radial engine (41 built)
• NB-2- production machine withWright-Hispano Eengine (30 built)
• NB-3- one NB-1 with lengthened fuselage and modified empennage to improve handling, and Hispano-Suiza E engine. Later refitted to standard NB-1
• NB-4- one NB-1 converted similar to NB-3, but with Lawrance J-1 engine. Later refitted to standard NB-1

Operators

United States

• United States Navy

Peru

• Peruvian Naval Aviation(NB-1)

Specifications (NB-1)

3-view line drawing of the Boeing NB

General characteristics

• Crew:two, pilot and instructor
• Length:28 ft 9 in (8.76 m)
• Wingspan:36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
• Height:11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
• Wing area:344 sq ft (32.0 m²)
• Empty weight:2,136 lb (969 kg)
• Gross weight:2,837 lb (1,287 kg)
• Powerplant:1 ×Lawrance J-1,200 hp (149 kW)

Performance

• Maximum speed:100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
• Range:300 mi (480 km, 260 nmi)
• Service ceiling:10.200 ft (3,110 m)
• Rate of climb:510 ft/min (2.6 m/s)

Armament

• 1 × trainable rearward-firing.30 machine gun (optional, for gunnery training)

References

• Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989).Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation.London: Studio Editions. p. 170.
• World Aircraft Information Files.London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 51.

External links

• Boeing training seaplane: model NB-1–The Museum of Flight Digital Collections