词条 | Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK | ||||||||||||||||||
释义 |
The Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK was a dive and torpedo bomber developed for the United States Navy starting in 1944. After only five examples had been built, with the first two being flying prototypes; the contract was terminated in September 1946. DevelopmentIn early 1942, the U.S. Navy’s Bureau of Aeronautics (BuAer) was planning the replacements for the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver dive bomber and the Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber. The aircraft was to carry the torpedo in an internal bomb bay. By late 1943 it became obvious that the proposed VBT design like the Douglas SB2D had drastically increased in size and weight. Consequently, the U.S. Navy initiated a smaller dive bomber design, intended for escort carrier operation.[1] The BuAer recognized the engineering workload for the major wartime programs and therefore assigned the design to companies without a major wartime production contract. BuAer selected Fleetwings at Bristol, Pennsylvania (USA), which was acquired by Henry J. Kaiser in 1943.[2] The XBK dive bomber program was initiated in February 1944 with a contract for two prototypes. To keep the aircraft size down, it was decided that all stores would be carried externally. A radar could be carried underneath the left wing. The dive brakes were of the lower and upper picket fence type at the inboard wing trailing edge. The horizontal tail was mounted on the tailfin above the fuselage. This feature avoided empennage buffet when the dive brakes were open. The placement of the engine exhausts was unusual, being almost aft of the cockpit. It was hoped that this feature would significantly decrease drag.[2][3] A mockup inspection without engine was carried out in April 1944 while the engine was installed in May 1944, with completion of the first prototype scheduled for November 1944.[2][4] To speed up later production, the U.S. Navy even constructed a new airfield at the Fleetwing plant.{{Citation needed|date=July 2011}} In early 1945, BuAer requested that the aircraft would be able to carry a torpedo. The weapon was fitted to a new centreline station and the designation was changed to XBTK.[2][4] The first XBTK-1 was finally completed in March 1945,[2] making its first flight on 12 April 1945.[4] Operational historyThe flight testing revealed inadequate engine cooling and severe fuselage vibration. Resolution of these problems and the replacement of the R-2800-22W engine, which was already out of production, by the -34 delayed restart of flight trials until July 1945. The aircraft was delivered to the U.S. Navy Naval Air Test Center (NATC) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland (USA), in August 1945 for evaluation. After the end of World War II, the U.S. Navy cut orders from 20 to 10 aircraft.[5] NATC recommended replacement of the novel exhaust system with a more normal system, as the cockpit temperature was very high and cockpit egress and access after an engine shutdown was extremely difficult. It also noted that stall performance was poor, particularly with power off. It was noted, however, that diving characteristics were superior to any dive bomber in service or under development.[4][6] The aircraft was transported back to Fleetwings where redesign began. The second production aircraft first flew in March 1946 and featured built-in leading edge slots which greatly improved the stall performance of the aircraft. However, by early 1946 procurement of new aircraft was drastically cut down and the BTK found its role already filled by the Douglas AD Skyraider and Martin AM Mauler. In May 1946 it was decided to complete five airframes already in production. Continued testing revealed problems when the aircraft was put in a spin, and the U.S. Navy finally terminated the contract on 3 September 1946, as there was no need for the aircraft anymore.[6] The five prototypes were scrapped, with the two "flying" examples broken up by April 1946.[7] Variants
Operators
United States Navy Specifications (XBTK-1){{Aircraft specs|ref=From Torpedo and Scout Bombers to Attack Aircraft[4] |prime units?=imp |crew=one (pilot) |length ft=38 |length in=11 |span ft=48 |span in=8 |height ft=15 |height in=8 |wing area sqft=380 |aspect ratio= |airfoil= |empty weight lb=9959 |gross weight lb=15782 |max takeoff weight kg= |max takeoff weight lb= |max takeoff weight note= |fuel capacity= |more general= |eng1 number=1 |eng1 name=Pratt & Whitney R-2800-34W |eng1 type=18-cylinder radial piston engine |eng1 hp=2100 |prop blade number= |prop name= |prop dia m= |prop dia ft= |prop dia in= |prop note= |max speed mph=373 |cruise speed kmh= |cruise speed mph= |cruise speed kts= |cruise speed note= |stall speed kmh= |stall speed mph= |stall speed kts= |stall speed note= |never exceed speed kmh= |never exceed speed mph= |never exceed speed kts= |never exceed speed note= |range miles=1400 |combat range km= |combat range miles= |combat range nmi= |combat range note= |ferry range km= |ferry range miles= |ferry range nmi= |ferry range note= |endurance= |ceiling ft=33400 |g limits= |roll rate= |glide ratio= |climb rate ftmin=3550 |time to altitude= |lift to drag= |wing loading kg/m2= |wing loading lb/sqft= |wing loading note= |fuel consumption kg/km= |fuel consumption lb/mi= |power/mass= |more performance= |guns=2 x 20mm cannon |bombs= |rockets= |missiles= |hardpoints=one centreline station, {{convert|2000|lb|abbr=on}} capacity; two wing stations, {{convert|1000|lb|abbr=on}} capacity each; eight wing launchers for {{convert|5|in|cm|adj=on|4=1|abbr=on}} High Velocity Aircraft Rockets. |hardpoint capacity= |hardpoint rockets= |hardpoint missiles= |hardpoint bombs= |hardpoint other= |avionics= }} See also{{aircontent|related= |similar aircraft=
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|see also= }} ReferencesNotes1. ^Kowalski 1999, pp. 1–2. 2. ^1 2 3 4 Andrews 1994, p. 28. 3. ^Francillon 1995, pp. 238–239. 4. ^1 2 3 4 Francillon 1995, p. 239. 5. ^Andrews 1994, pp. 28–29. 6. ^1 Andrews 1994, p. 29. 7. ^Kowalski 1999, p. 26. Bibliography{{Refbegin}}
External links{{Commons category|Kaiser-Fleetwings BTK}}{{Kaiser-Fleetwings aircraft}}{{USN bomber aircraft}}{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2011}} 7 : Fleetwings aircraft|United States bomber aircraft 1940–1949|Single-engined tractor aircraft|Low-wing aircraft|Carrier-based aircraft|Cancelled military aircraft projects of the United States|Aircraft first flown in 1945 |
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