Boeing F3B
Fighter aircraft family by Boeing From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Fighter aircraft family by Boeing From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Boeing F3B was a biplane fighter and fighter bomber that served with the United States Navy from 1928 into the early 1930s.
| F3B | |
|---|---|
| |
| Boeing F3B-1, U.S. Navy Photo | |
| Role | Carrier-based Fighter-Bomber |
| Manufacturer | Boeing |
| First flight | 3 February 1928 |
| Introduction | August 1928[1] |
| Primary user | United States Navy |
| Number built | 74 including the prototype[1] |
| Developed from | Boeing F2B, FB-5 |
Designed by the company as its Model 74, the plane was an incremental improvement over the F2B. The Navy-designated prototype XF3B-1 still had the tapered wings of the F2B for instance, but was built as a single-float seaplane using the FB-5 undercarriage. However, the growing use of aircraft carriers took away most of the need for floating fighters, and by the time other test results had been taken into account, the production F3B-1 (Model 77) had a larger upper wing that was slightly swept back and a redesigned tail with surfaces made from corrugated aluminum.[2] It also eliminated the spreader bar arrangement of the undercarriage and revised the vertical tail shape.[3]
It first flew on 3 February 1928, turning in a respectable performance and garnering Boeing a contract for 73 more. F3Bs served as fighter-bombers for some four years with the squadrons VF-2B aboard USS Langley, VB-2B aboard USS Saratoga (later VF-6B), and VB-1B on USS Lexington,[1][3] during which period some were fitted with Townend rings and others with streamlined wheel fairings.[2] The aircraft remained in first-line service to 1932 and were then retained as "hacks" (command and staff transports) for several more years.[3]
Data from The Complete Encyclopedia of World Aircraft [3]
General characteristics
Performance
Armament
Related development
Related lists
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