Boeing XB-59

Boeing XB-59
Type:	bomber
Design country:	United States
Manufacturer:	Boeing

The Boeing XB-59 , Boeing's model number 701, was a proposal for a supersonic bomber used by the United States Air Force in the 1950s.

In 1949, the US government canceled the Boeing XB-55 contract, which was aimed at creating a subsonic replacement for the newly introduced Boeing B-47 Stratojet. The XB-55 project had been launched in 1947, but by the end of the decade it was evident that a strategic bomber can only successfully enter enemy airspace if it is significantly faster than the enemy interceptors then in service. The cancellation of the XB-55 project freed up funding for design studies of a medium-weight supersonic bomber. Several aircraft manufacturers were then asked to submit appropriate designs.

Boeing's design provided for a four-engine high-wing aircraft with a streamlined fuselage. The four engines should be placed in pairs next to each other in the thickened surface roots. The wings should taper sharply towards the ends. The design stipulated a maximum speed of Mach 2.

As a weapon system MX-1965, the XB-59 should have a crew of three and be powered by four GE-J73-X24A - or Pratt & Whitney J57 - jet engines. Like the Boeing B-47 Stratojet and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress, it was to have a tandem landing gear with support wheels at the tips of the wings.

The contract with Boeing for the XB-59 was terminated at the end of 1952, because the design was considered inferior to the Convair B-58 Hustler , especially in terms of supersonic flight performance. The Boeing XB-59 remained a design study and was not built.

Technical specifications

Parameter	Data
crew	three
length	37.27 m (123 ft. 4 in.)
span	24.64 m (81 ft. 4 in.)
height	7.68 m (25 ft. 4 in.)
Takeoff weight	67,400 kg (148,300 lb max.)
Top speed	1,930 km / h (1,200 mph)
Marching speed	965 km / h (600 mph)
Service ceiling	15,150 m (50,000 ft)
Range	4,020 km (2,500 mi)
Engines	4 × General Electric J73-X24A with 62.3 kN (14,000 lb) thrust each (with afterburner) (or 4 × Pratt & Whitney J57-P-5 with 66.8 kN (15,000 lb) thrust (with afterburner))
Armament	a 30 mm cannon in the rear position; 4,540 kg (10,000 lb) bomb payload

Web links

Commons : Boeing XB-59  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

• XB-59 in the USAF Museum (English)
• Russian page about the XB-59 with drawings

Individual evidence

1. ↑ http://www.designation-systems.net/usmilav/mx/1500-1999.html
2. ↑ http://www.defencetalk.com/world_military_aircraft/bombers/xb-59_20070921.php