boeing XB-15 - Aircraft of World War II

Archangel · 11-19-2005, 09:26 AM

wl, ive heard about this aircraft, and its told that you could crouch into the wing, and do repairs during the flight. ( on he engines )

ive serced on the internet, b had no luck so far of finding a nice photo of the interrior.
does someone of you has one?

( its the bigger brother of the b-17

)

Parmigiano · 11-19-2005, 09:34 AM

was one of the bombers under the 'hemisphere defender' concept, initially designed with XBLR (bomber long range)

I have some documentation about XBLR 15, 18 and a couple of others, will search my files later today.

main problem for all the projects was the lack of power, or (better) was the unavailability in the '30 of engines powerful enough to make the big birds effective.

The 'operative' output of the concept was of course the B36, when engines in the 3000 HP range were available.

trackend · 11-19-2005, 01:16 PM

Is it the angle of the shot ? cause it has one hell of a wing span.

v2 · 11-19-2005, 01:59 PM

look at that:

http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/resea...bers/b2-11.htm

Archangel · 11-19-2005, 06:17 PM

great find all, but i'm looking for a picture of the inside of the wing,
because im really interested how the planned on repairing a damaged engine during flight.

Parmigiano · 11-20-2005, 09:37 AM

No luck for the inside of the wings, but the magazine item confirmed that there was a 'tunnel' in the wings between the cockpit area and the engines to allow in flight maintenance.
A small picture shows a 'door' in the engine nacelle, probably giving external access to the maintenance area behind the engine.

and the other picture proves that the bird had a HUGE wing...

All pictures scanned from 'Aerei nella Storia, West-Ward Edizioni, June-July 2004 - www.aereinellastoria.it

Nonskimmer · 11-20-2005, 11:09 AM

Interesting stuff. Even though I don't read Italian.

The link from v2 was interesting too, as I do read English.

...sort of.

the lancaster kicks ass · 11-20-2005, 11:27 AM

wow, the itallian for Pratt and Whitney R-1830-11 Twin Wasp Senior is... Pratt and Whitney R-1830-11 Twin Wasp Senior, well i've learnt some italian!

a very interesting nose turret set up too.........

FLYBOYJ · 11-20-2005, 11:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Archangel

great find all, but i'm looking for a picture of the inside of the wing,
because im really interested how the planned on repairing a damaged engine during flight.

I could tell you this much, the only thing the mechanic could of done on those engines while in flight were maybe change some hoses and engine accessories, the accessories gear box is on the rear of the engine. I wonder how tight it was in there and how much access the mechanic would have?!?

To me, if I'm flying on an aircraft where mechanics have access to the engines to make repairs in flight, well something is terribly wrong!

wmaxt · 11-20-2005, 04:52 PM

What makes me nervous is when they bring an extra engine along too.

wmaxt

Gnomey · 11-20-2005, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wmaxt

What makes me nervous is when they bring an extra engine along too.

wmaxt

That would make me worried too wmaxt. Nice pics Parm.

Archangel · 11-22-2005, 04:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

I wonder how tight it was in there and how much access the mechanic would have?!?

thats one of the things why i asked this question too

tough,.. the concept of this plane is one of the things that made boeing really big

evangilder · 11-22-2005, 10:02 AM

If memory serves correctly, The XB-15 was the predecessor to the B-17.

Archangel · 11-23-2005, 03:52 AM

that's correct.
you could call him te b-17's big broter :P

cheddar cheese · 11-23-2005, 08:05 AM

Wasnt there another predecessor to the B-17? Was it the XB-19?

11-19-2005, 09:26 AM	#1
Archangel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NL Posts: 134	boeing XB-15 wl, ive heard about this aircraft, and its told that you could crouch into the wing, and do repairs during the flight. ( on he engines ) ive serced on the internet, b had no luck so far of finding a nice photo of the interrior. does someone of you has one? ( its the bigger brother of the b-17 ) __________________

11-19-2005, 09:34 AM	#2
Parmigiano Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Campospinoso (PV), Italy Posts: 682	was one of the bombers under the 'hemisphere defender' concept, initially designed with XBLR (bomber long range) I have some documentation about XBLR 15, 18 and a couple of others, will search my files later today. main problem for all the projects was the lack of power, or (better) was the unavailability in the '30 of engines powerful enough to make the big birds effective. The 'operative' output of the concept was of course the B36, when engines in the 3000 HP range were available. __________________ "God is dead" - Friedrich Nietzsche, 1882 "Nietzsche too" - God, Aug 25, 1900 He hoped and prayed that there wasn't an afterlife. Then he realized there was a contradiction involved here and merely hoped that there wasn't an afterlife. - Douglas Adams In those days spirits were brave, the stakes were high, men were real men, women were real women and small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri were real small furry creatures from Alpha Centauri. - Douglas Adams

11-19-2005, 06:17 PM	#5
Archangel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NL Posts: 134	great find all, but i'm looking for a picture of the inside of the wing, because im really interested how the planned on repairing a damaged engine during flight. __________________

11-20-2005, 11:27 AM	#8
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	wow, the itallian for Pratt and Whitney R-1830-11 Twin Wasp Senior is... Pratt and Whitney R-1830-11 Twin Wasp Senior, well i've learnt some italian! a very interesting nose turret set up too......... __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

11-22-2005, 10:02 AM	#13
evangilder "Shooter" Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA Posts: 14,807	If memory serves correctly, The XB-15 was the predecessor to the B-17. __________________ http://www.vg-photo.com For once you have tasted flight you will walk the earth with your eyes turned skywards, for there you have been and there you will long to return. Leonardo Da Vinci

11-19-2005, 01:16 PM	#3
trackend Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Canvey Island, Essex Posts: 4,029	Is it the angle of the shot ? cause it has one hell of a wing span.

11-19-2005, 01:59 PM	#4
v2 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Cracow Posts: 4,207	look at that: http://www.wpafb.af.mil/museum/resea...bers/b2-11.htm

11-20-2005, 11:09 AM	#7
Nonskimmer Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia Posts: 8,871	Interesting stuff. Even though I don't read Italian. The link from v2 was interesting too, as I do read English. ...sort of.

11-20-2005, 04:52 PM	#10
wmaxt Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Boise, Idaho Posts: 1,175	What makes me nervous is when they bring an extra engine along too. wmaxt

11-23-2005, 03:52 AM	#14
Archangel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: NL Posts: 134	that's correct. you could call him te b-17's big broter :P __________________

11-23-2005, 08:05 AM	#15
cheddar cheese Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: WSM, England Posts: 20,387	Wasnt there another predecessor to the B-17? Was it the XB-19?

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