Boeing XB-59

Supersonic Medium Jet Bomber Proposal

United States | 1949

"No prototypes of the proposed Boeing XB-59 supersonic strategic bomber were ordered - the role fulfilled by the Convair B-58 Hustler."

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 04/25/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

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The merits of a jet-powered supersonic strategic bomber for the USAF during the early Cold War years led to the termination of the conventionally-powered Boeing XB-55 proposal in 1949. The XB-55 was drawn up to succeed the all-jet-powered B-47 "Stratojet" before a prototype of that series had even flown. However, issues with the proposed turboprop arrangement and success of the B-47 in-the-field led to a cancellation of the XB-55. Instead, thought (and some of the XB-55 project resources) were now turned over to a new venture - a supersonic-minded Boeing bomber in the form of the "XB-59" (company Model 701).

The new bomber was categorized as a medium-class platform and showcased the usual supersonic elements - jet engines housed within the body of the aircraft, a streamlined fuselage and swept-back wing mainplanes and tail surfaces. The cockpit was held at the front over the nose in the usual way and the wing mainplanes were shoulder-mounted along the fuselage sides. The tail unit consisted of a single vertical tail fin with mid-mounted horizontal planes. Four engines would be used to power the design, these being two paired General Electric J73-X24A turbojets with afterburning capability to help achieve desired straightline speeds. The engines were set within the wingroots to maintain aerodynamic efficiency and exhausted along the fuselage sides.

Boeing retained some features of its earlier B-47 approach - and the XB-55 for that matter - in the XB-59 proposal, namely coupled engines, swept-back wings, and a "bicycle" undercarriage arrangement (with outriggers supporting the wings). Like the B-47 it also would carry a crew of three operators as opposed to the XB-55's ten.

Overall dimensions for the proposed product included a length of 123.3 feet, a wingspan of 81.3 feet and a height of 25.4 feet. Empty weight was rated at 63,000 lb with a gross weight registering 148,000lb. Estimated performance specifications were a maximum speed of Mach 2, a range out to 2,380 miles and a service ceiling of 51,000 feet. Beyond an undisclosed internal bombload, the XB-59 was slated to carry 1 x 30mm cannon in a tail position to counter the threat from enemy interceptors emerging from the rear of the aircraft.

The supersonic requirement was eventually fulfilled by a Convair submission which became the B-58 "Hustler" (detailed elsewhere on this site) and this left the XB-59 without a future. No prototypes were ever ordered/built and the project was cancelled before the end of 1952.

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Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Boeing XB-59 Supersonic Medium Jet Bomber Proposal.

4 x General Electric J73-X24A turbojets developing 14,000lb of thrust each with afterburning capability.
Propulsion

1,553 mph
2,500 kph | 1,350 kts
Max Speed

51,001 ft
15,545 m | 10 miles
Service Ceiling

2,380 miles
3,830 km | 2,068 nm
Operational Range

17,000 ft/min
5,182 m/min
Rate-of-Climb

City-to-City Ranges
Operational range when compared to distances between major cities (in KM).

NYC

LON

PAR

BER

MOS

TOK

SYD

LAX

NYC

Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the Boeing XB-59 Supersonic Medium Jet Bomber Proposal.

3
(MANNED)
Crew

123.4 ft
37.60 m
O/A Length

81.4 ft
(24.80 m)
O/A Width

25.4 ft
(7.75 m)
O/A Height

63,196 lb
(28,665 kg)
Empty Weight

148,305 lb
(67,270 kg)
MTOW

Design Balance
The three qualities reflected below are altitude, speed, and range. The more full the box, the more balanced the design.

RANGE

ALT

SPEED

Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the Boeing XB-59 Supersonic Medium Jet Bomber Proposal .

STANDARD:
1 x 30mm cannon in tail unit.

OPTIONAL:
Unknown internal bomb load maximum.

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Boeing XB-59 family line.

XB-59 - Base Project Designation

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Boeing XB-59. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 0 Units
Contractor(s): Boeing - USA

[ United States (cancelled) ]

Relative Max Speed

Hi: 1600mph

Lo: 800mph

Aircraft Max Listed Speed (1,553mph).

Graph Average of 1,200 MPH.

Era Crossover

Showcasing Aircraft Era Crossover (if any)

Max Alt Visualization

MACH Regime (Sonic)

Sub

Trans

Super

Hyper

HiHyper

ReEntry

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Mission Roles
Some designs are single-minded in their approach while others offer a more versatile solution to airborne requirements.

GROUND ATTACK

X-PLANE

Recognition
Some designs stand the test of time while others are doomed to never advance beyond the drawing board; let history be their judge.

Going Further...
The Boeing XB-59 Supersonic Medium Jet Bomber Proposal appears in the following collections:

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