Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer. Photo. Characteristics.

USA

A type: chetyrehdvigatelny maritime patrol bomber

Crew: 11 people

Despite the fact that since August 1942, the US Navy has been used successfully in the Pacific and their planes over the Atlantic PB4Y-1 «Liberator" modified B-24D, after all, these machines are more suited to the Air Force. Therefore, in the early 1943, it was decided that the most profitable version of the aircraft will be modernized under the tasks of the Navy and the end of May was contracted to a specialized long-range patrol bomber aircraft on the basis of "Liberator".

Three B-24D aircraft lengthened the fuselage to 2,14 m, refining the cabs and equipment for the Navy's tasks, strengthening the defensive armament, engine hoods and setting up a characteristic vertical tail, similar to what was installed on the last transport modification of the Liberator airplane. The Navy ordered 739 aircraft with one batch, of which 286 were delivered in 1944, and the rest - in the following. Just a few planes got to the front by the day of victory over Japan, although the VP-24 unit reached combat readiness with anti-ship Bat missiles a few weeks before Japan surrendered.

In fact, the plane "Prayvetir» (Privateer - Privateer) his service was the best during the "Cold War" as the media radar and electronic countermeasures equipment, received in 1951, the new designation P4Y. Later he flew to the United States Coast Guard, the last copies were decommissioned in the early 1960-ies. A small number of these aircraft flying in the United States today as aircraft fire.

Basic data

Dimensions:

• Length: 22,73 m
• Wingspan: 33,53 m
• Height: 9,17 m

Power point: four engine R-1830-94 «Twin Wasp" Company "Pratt- Whitney"

Power: 5400 l. from. (4028 kW)

Aircraft performance characteristics:

Maximum speed: 381 km / h

• Range: 4506 km

The weight:

• BLANK: 17 003 kg
• Maximum take-off: 29 484 kg

Date of first flight:

• September 20, 1943

The surviving airworthy modifications:

• PB4Y-2 and PB4Y-2G