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U.S.A.A.F. RESOURCE CENTER > BOMBERS > FLYING FORTRESS > VARIANTS > PREVIOUS PAGE

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BOEING B-17 FLYING FORTRESS
Variants - XB-38

The XB-38 Flying Fortress was a single example conversion of a production B-17E Flying Fortress (serial # 41-2401), for testing whether the Allison V-1710 V type engine could be substituted for the standard Wright R-1820 radial engine during early World War II.

XB-38 Flying Fortress
[Source: USAF Photo]

The XB-38 was the result of a modification project undertaken by Boeing and Vega (a subsidiary of Lockheed) on a B-17 Flying Fortress to fit it with liquid-cooled Allison V-1710-89 Vee engine. It was meant as an improved version of the B-17, and a variant that could be used if air-cooled Wright R-1820 radial engines became scarce. Completing the modifications took less than a year, and the XB-38 made its first flight on May 19, 1943. Only one prototype was built, and it was developed from an existing B-17 bomber.

XB-38 Flying Fortress
[Source: USAF Photo]

While the XB-38 delivered a substantially higher top speed, its service ceiling was lower. After a few flights it had to be grounded due to a problem with engine manifold joints leaking exhaust gases. Following the fixing of this problem, testing continued until the ninth flight on June 16, 1943. During this flight, the third (right inboard) engine caught fire, and the crew was forced to bail out. The XB-38 was destroyed and the project was canceled, in part because the V-1710 engines were needed for other projects such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Bell P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, North American P-51A Mustang, and Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighters.

First Flight: May 19, 1943
Produced: 1

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Sources:
Wikipedia

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U.S.A.A.F. RESOURCE CENTER > BOMBERS > FLYING FORTRESS > VARIANTS > PREVIOUS PAGE

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