Douglas XP3D
| XP3D | |
|---|---|
| |
| The XP3D-1 | |
| Role | Flying boat |
| National origin | United States of America |
| Manufacturer | Douglas Aircraft Company |
| First flight | 6 February 1935 |
| Primary user | US Navy |
| Number built | 1 |
TheDouglas XP3Dwas a prototypeAmericanpatrolflying boatof the 1930s. A twin-engined high-wingedmonoplane,the P3D was produced by theDouglas Aircraft Companyto equip theUS Navy's Patrol squadrons, but despite meeting the Navy's requirements, the rivalConsolidated PBYwas preferred owing to a lower price.
Development and design[edit]
In 1933, theUnited States Navyplaced orders with both Douglas andConsolidated Aircraftfor single prototypes of patrol flying boats, to replace theConsolidated P2Yand Martin P3M that equipped the Navy's patrol squadrons.[1]Douglas's design, the P3D, was designed in parallel with the smallerYB-11being developed for theUnited States Army Air Corps(which was eventually built as the YOA-5), and like the YB-11, was a twin-engined high-wingedmonoplanewith its engines (the newPratt & Whitney R-1830Twin Waspradial enginemounted in nacelles above and ahead of the wing. Unlike the YB-11, it was a pure flying boat rather than anamphibian,and was therefore fitted with retractable beaching gear to allow it to be moved to and from shore, rather than a full undercarriage allowing operation from land or sea.[2]
The Douglas prototype, designatedXP3D-1,first flew on 6 February 1935, and was delivered toNAS San Diegofor testing in March 1935.[2]Both the XP3D-1 and Consolidated'sP3Ysuccessfully passed the Navy's performance tests,[3]demonstrated very similar performance,[2]an order was placed for 60 P3Ys (re-designated PBY in May 1936) because the Consolidated aircraft was cheaper, costing $90,000 per aircraft compared with $110,000 for the Douglas aircraft.[4]
Douglas re-designed the P3D to improve performance in order to win follow-on contracts, and rebuilt the XP3D-1, raising the wing by 27 inches (0.69 m) and mounting the engines on the leading edge of the wing. The fixed wing floats were replaced by retractable floats, and a nose turret was fitted. The rebuilt aircraft, designatedXP3D-2was re-delivered on 15 May 1935, but production orders again went to Consolidated, for the improved PBY-2.[5]
Operational history[edit]
The XP3D-1 was briefly operated by Patrol Squadron 3 (VP-3) until it was returned to Douglas for re-building. The re-built XP3D-2 was used by VP-11F as an VIP aircraft until destroyed in a crash atAcapulco Bay,Mexicoon 8 February 1937.[5]The crash was survived by the embarked VIP, Rear AdmiralErnest King.[6]
Variants[edit]
- XP3D-1
- Prototype aircraft. Two 825 hp (615 kW) R-1830-58 engines.
- XP3D-2
- Rebuilt XP3D-1, with raised wing, engines moved to wing leading edge and retractable wing floats. Two 900 hp (671 kW) R-1830-64 engines.
Operators[edit]
Specifications (XP3D-2)[edit]
Data fromMcDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920: Volume I[7]
General characteristics
- Crew:5–7
- Length:69 ft 7.5 in (21.222 m)
- Wingspan:95 ft 0 in (28.96 m)
- Height:22 ft 5.25 in (6.8390 m)
- Wing area:1,295 sq ft (120.3 m2)
- Empty weight:15,120 lb (6,858 kg)
- Gross weight:22,909 lb (10,391 kg)
- Max takeoff weight:27,946 lb (12,676 kg)
- Powerplant:2 ×Pratt & Whitney R-1830-64 Twin Wasp14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 900 hp (670 kW) each
- Propellers:3-bladed variable-pitch propellers
Performance
- Maximum speed:183 mph (295 km/h, 159 kn) at 8,000 ft (2,400 m)
- Range:2,050 mi (3,300 km, 1,780 nmi)3380
- Service ceiling:18,900 ft (5,800 m)
- Time to altitude:5,000 ft (1,500 m) in 6 minutes 6 seconds
- Wing loading:17.7 lb/sq ft (86 kg/m2)
- Power/mass:0.0565 hp/lb (0.0929 kW/kg)
Armament
- Guns:3×0.30 in (7.6 mm)Browning machine gunsin nose turret and hull hatches
- Bombs:3,000 lb (1,400 kg) of bombs
See also[edit]
Related development
Aircraft of comparable role, configuration, and era
References[edit]
- Notes
- ^abcFrancillon 1979, p.194.
- ^Creed 1986, pp.32–33.
- ^Francillon 1979, pp.194–195.
- ^abFrancillon 1979, p.195.
- ^Morton, Gerard T. (1985). "Sixty Seconds to Live".Proceedings.111(9).United States Naval Institute:70–72.
- ^Francillon, René J. (1988).McDonnell Douglas aircraft since 1920: Volume I.London: Naval Institute Press. pp. 176–179.ISBN0870214284.
- Bibliography
- Creed, Roscoe.PBY: The Catalina Flying Boat.Shrewsbury, UK:Airlife Publishing, 1986.ISBN0-906393-60-4.
- Francillon, René J.McDonnell Douglas Aircraft since 1920.London:Putnam, 1979.ISBN0-370-00050-1.
- Swanborough, Gordon and Peter M. Bowers.United States Navy Aircraft since 1911.London:Putnam, 1976.ISBN0-370-10054-9.
- Wagner, Ray,American Combat Planes,Doubleday & Company, Garden City, New York, 1982,ISBN9780385131209
External links[edit]
- 1000Aircraftphotos
- California Secret.Time,March 25, 1935.