The Consolidated LB-25 were a series of design studies undertaken by Consolidated Aircraft to fulfill a United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) heavy bomber requirement before American involvement in World War 2 (1939-1945). The design period also produced the short-lived XB-32 bomber form (detailed elsewhere on MilitaryFactory.com). Like the XB-32, the LB-25 was envisioned with a four-engine arrangement, split-rudder tailfins, and shoulder-mounted (straight) wing mainplanes. None of the proposed studies were furthered beyond the paper or wind tunnel testing stage.
Work on the LB-25 series was first unveiled in March of 1940 and eventually encompassed four distinct forms: LB-25-1, LB-25-2, LB-25-3, and LB-25-4 - differing mainly in the powerplant type and brand to be featured.
In keeping with the design approach of the day, a tubular / cylindrical fuselage was selected to house all pertinent working spaces and armament (including the bomb load). As in the B-24 Liberator before it, the nose of the aircraft was stepped and glazed for the bombardier / pilots (the pilots sitting high and behind the bombardier's position. The shoulder-mounting of the mainplanes gave excellent views of the twin engine arrangement to each side of the cockpit, pilots able to assess the working order of the powerplants in short order. The mainplanes were fitted noticeably forward of midships to maintain proper balance. As in the B-24 before it, the LB-25 was to carry a tricycle undercarriage with short-strut nosewheel and main legs housed under each mainplane.
The bomb bay was positioned slightly ahead of midships with four total doors marking this area externally. The fuselage tapered slightly towards the extreme rear of the aircraft where the twin horizontal planes (each capped by rounded vertical fins) were set.
Armament was assumed to be defensive in nature, made up of medium and large caliber machine guns as well as cannon. The cannon was to be installed at the tail unit to protect the aircraft's vulnerable "six". A network of machine guns (in both 0.30 and 0.50 caliber) would have defensed the aircraft from fighter assault. Their actual positions about the airframe are unknown though the assumption can be had for nose and ventral mountings as well as beam fittings for all-around protection.
The bombload was limited to 8,000lb of internal ordnance.
LB-25-1 was showcased with a running length of 77.7 feet and a wingspan of 135 feet. Power would come from 4 x Wright R-3350 turbocharged air-cooled radials of 2,200 horsepower each driving four-bladed propeller units. Estimated maximum speed was nearly 400 miles-per-hour with a range out to 5,335 miles and a service ceiling up to 32,000 feet (requiring crew oxygen supplies). Gross weight was rated at 85,620lb.
LB-25-2 was slightly lighter while LB-25-3 and LB-25-4 were both heavier designs incorporating Wright and Pratt & Whitney radials (including experimental models). Performance was nearly equal to the LB-25-1, some designs exceeding 400mph while others falling just under. All surpassed the 30,000 foot operating ceiling.
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(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
77.6 ft (23.65 m)
Width/Span
135.0 ft (41.15 m)
MTOW
88,185 lb (40,000 kg)
(Showcased structural values pertain to the LB-25-1 production variant)
monoplane / shoulder-mounted / straight
Monoplane
Design utilizes a single primary wing mainplane; this represent the most popular mainplane arrangement.
Shoulder-Mounted
Mainplanes are mounted at the upper section of the fuselage, generally at the imaginary line intersecting the pilot's shoulders.
Straight
The planform involves use of basic, straight mainplane members.
(Structural descriptors pertain to the LB-25-1 production variant)
Installed:
4 x Wright R-3350 turbocharged air-cooled radial piston engines developing 2,200 horsepower each driving four-bladed propeller units in tractor arrangement.
(Showcased performance specifications pertain to the LB-25-1 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)
PROPOSED:
2 x 0.30 caliber machine guns.
8 x 0.50 caliber heavy machine guns.
1 x 20mm Automatic cannon in tail fitting.
Up to 8,000lb of internal, air-droppable stores (conventional drop bombs) held in the bomb bay.
Supported Types
(Not all ordnance types may be represented in the showcase above)
Hardpoint Mountings: 0
LB-25 - Base Project Designation.
LB-25-1 - Initial study; 4 x Wright radials; 85,600lb weight; 390mph top speed; 4-bladed propeller units.
LB-25-2 - Second study; 4 x PW radials; 84,000lb weight; 375mph top speed; three-bladed propeller units.
LB-25-3 - Third study; Wright Tornado engines; 91,000lb weight; 398mph top speed.
LB-25-4 - Fourth study; 4 x PW radials; 96,000lb weight; 415mph top speed.
Ribbon graphics not necessarily indicative of actual historical campaign ribbons. Ribbons are clickable to their respective aerial campaigns / operations / aviation periods.
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United States (cancelled)
