×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Infantry Arms Warships & Submarines Military Pay Chart (2023) Military Ranks
Advertisements
HOME
AIRCRAFT / AVIATION
MODERN AIR FORCES
COUNTRIES
MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE
BY CONFLICT
BY TYPE
BY DECADE
WORLD WAR 2
X-PLANE
Aviation / Aerospace

Boeing XB-39 (Spirit of Lincoln)


Heavy Strategic Bomber Prototype Aircraft [ 1944 ]



Intended to test the feasibility of an alternative powerplant, the Allison-powered Boeing XB-39 Superfortress ended its days as a single prototype.



Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 07/29/2020 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

GO TO SPECIFICATIONS [+]
Advertisements
Such was the importance of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress to the United States Army Air Forces during the latter stages of World War 2 (1939-1945) that the program was given several fail safes to keep it a viable heavy bomber product moving forwards. This led to a YB-29 developmental machine being set aside by the USAAF for alternative powerplant implementation - assuming that the required stock of problematic Wright R-3350 radial engines would not be available for one reason or another. A modification process was undertaken by Fisher Body (General Motors) in 1944 on the YB-29 aircraft and this went on to produce the XB-39 "Spirit of Lincoln" bomber prototype.

Its basic form and function remained faithful to the original Boeing design but the powerplants in play were now focused on 4 x Allison V-3420-17 series liquid-cooled engine (the original B-29 relied on the aforementioned Wright air-cooled units). Fisher was also using these engines in its (ultimately failed) P-75 "Eagle" long-range escort fighter. Delays in the intended turbosuperchargers dogged the XB-39 project so the first-flight on December 9th, 1944 was had without these installed - though the aircraft provided a successful demonstration nonetheless.

Despite the promising nature of the large aircraft, the Wright air-cooled radials, warts and all, remained the primary focus of the B-29 production campaign, leaving the XB-39 without a battlefield role or notable buyer. Additionally, Fisher was pushed to commit more and more of its resources to the XP-75 fighter prototype which held higher priority for the USAAF at this point in the war. Decisions led to the ultimately abandonment of the XB-39 project with the single prototype being completed and flown (if only for a short time).

As built, the XB-39 held 4 x Allison V-3420-11 liquid-cooled engines of 2,100 horsepower each able to propel the aircraft to speeds of 405 miles per hour out to ranges reaching 6,300 miles and a service ceiling of 35,000 feet. Its crew numbered ten and the armament suite was similar to that of the original B-29 (including remote-controlled turrets and tail cannon). 20,000lb of drop stores could be carried internally.©MilitaryFactory.com
Note: The above text is EXCLUSIVE to the site www.MilitaryFactory.com. It is the product of many hours of research and work made possible with the help of contributors, veterans, insiders, and topic specialists. If you happen upon this text anywhere else on the internet or in print, please let us know at MilitaryFactory AT gmail DOT com so that we may take appropriate action against the offender / offending site and continue to protect this original work.
Advertisements

Specifications



Service Year
1944

Origin
United States national flag graphic
United States

Status
CANCELLED
Development Ended.
Crew
10

Production
1
UNITS


Boeing Company / Fisher (General Motors)
(View other Aviaton-Related Manufacturers)
National flag of the United States United States (cancelled)
(OPERATORS list includes past, present, and future operators when applicable)
Ground Attack (Bombing, Strafing)
Ability to conduct aerial bombing of ground targets by way of (but not limited to) guns, bombs, missiles, rockets, and the like.
X-Plane (Developmental, Prototype, Technology Demonstrator)
Aircraft developed for the role of prototyping, technology demonstration, or research / data collection.


Length
99.0 ft
(30.18 m)
Width/Span
141.2 ft
(43.05 m)
Height
27.7 ft
(8.45 m)
Empty Wgt
74,516 lb
(33,800 kg)
MTOW
133,512 lb
(60,560 kg)
Wgt Diff
+58,996 lb
(+26,760 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the Boeing XB-39 production variant)
Installed: 4 x Allison V-3420-11 W24 liquid-cooled engines developing 2,100 horsepower each.
Max Speed
404 mph
(650 kph | 351 kts)
Ceiling
36,089 ft
(11,000 m | 7 mi)
Range
6,251 mi
(10,060 km | 18,631 nm)
Rate-of-Climb
1,000 ft/min
(305 m/min)


♦ MACH Regime (Sonic)
Sub
Trans
Super
Hyper
HiHyper
ReEntry
RANGES (MPH) Subsonic: <614mph | Transonic: 614-921 | Supersonic: 921-3836 | Hypersonic: 3836-7673 | Hi-Hypersonic: 7673-19180 | Reentry: >19030


(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the Boeing XB-39 production variant. Performance specifications showcased above are subject to environmental factors as well as aircraft configuration. Estimates are made when Real Data not available. Compare this aircraft entry against any other in our database or View aircraft by powerplant type)
STANDARD:
10 x 0.50 cal Browning M2 heavy machine guns in four remote-controlled turrets.
2 x 0.50 cal Browning M2 heavy machine guns and 1 x 20mm M2 cannon in tail unit.

OPTIONAL:
Up to 20,000lb of conventional drop stores held internally.


Supported Types


Graphical image of an aircraft medium machine gun
Graphical image of an aircraft heavy machine gun
Graphical image of an aircraft automatic cannon
Graphical image of an aircraft conventional drop bomb munition


(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0


XB-39 - Base Project Designation; single, flyable prototype completed.


Military lapel ribbon for Operation Allied Force
Military lapel ribbon for the Arab-Israeli War
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Britain
Military lapel ribbon for the Battle of Midway
Military lapel ribbon for the Berlin Airlift
Military lapel ribbon for the Chaco War
Military lapel ribbon for the Cold War
Military lapel ribbon for the Cuban Missile Crisis
Military lapel ribbon for pioneering aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the Falklands War
Military lapel ribbon for the French-Indochina War
Military lapel ribbon for the Golden Age of Flight
Military lapel ribbon for the 1991 Gulf War
Military lapel ribbon for the Indo-Pak Wars
Military lapel ribbon for the Iran-Iraq War
Military lapel ribbon for the Korean War
Military lapel ribbon for the 1982 Lebanon War
Military lapel ribbon for the Malayan Emergency
Military lapel ribbon representing modern aircraft
Military lapel ribbon for the attack on Pearl Harbor
Military lapel ribbon for the Six Day War
Military lapel ribbon for the Soviet-Afghan War
Military lapel ribbon for the Spanish Civil War
Military lapel ribbon for the Suez Crisis
Military lapel ribbon for the Ukranian-Russian War
Military lapel ribbon for the Vietnam War
Military lapel ribbon for Warsaw Pact of the Cold War-era
Military lapel ribbon for the WASP (WW2)
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 1
Military lapel ribbon for the World War 2
Military lapel ribbon for the Yom Kippur War
Military lapel ribbon for experimental x-plane aircraft


Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.

Images Gallery



1 / 2
Image of the Boeing XB-39 (Spirit of Lincoln)
Image from the Public Domain.
2 / 2
Image of the Boeing XB-39 (Spirit of Lincoln)
Image from the Public Domain.


Advertisements




Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies


2023 Military Pay Chart Military Ranks DoD Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons.

View day-by-day actions of the American Civil War with CivilWarTimeline.net. View day-by-day actions of World War II with SecondWorldWarHistory.com.


©2023 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2023 (20yrs)