"Douglas" in-23 «Dragon." Photo. Characteristics

USA

A type: twin-engine medium bomber

Crew: a crew of four or five people

The V-23 "Dragon" was essentially a modified and improved version of the B-18 "Bolo" aircraft of the company "Douglas", created in 1934. Produced as a result of the success of the B-17 four-engine bomber, built at the same time as the B-18, the Dragon aircraft featured a new, more aerodynamically clean fuselage, a larger wing and a higher keel - it was also the first US bomber with a rifleman, Located in the tail of the aircraft. All these modifications preceded the creation of a bomber with improved performance, and when they received Wright's R-2600 engines with increased power, Douglas was confident that she had a plane capable of competing with the Flying Fortress aircraft.

Nevertheless, the tests that followed shortly after the prototype completed the first 27 flight of 1939 in July showed less than inspiring flight performance figures, especially in the light of military information reaching America from Europe, on bomb load and range. In production, the B-23 was quickly replaced by the newer medium bombers being developed, and only 38 aircraft were actually delivered. They were used as a coastal patrol aircraft along the Pacific coast, while several aircraft were subsequently converted into general-purpose transport aircraft (designated UC-67). Despite a modest number of built-up specimens, to the present day more than a dozen aircraft have survived, some of them are in the state of airworthiness.

Basic data

Dimensions:

• Length: 17,78 m
• Wingspan: 28,04 m
• Height: 5,64 m

Range of flight: 368 km

Power point: two engines, "Wright» R-2600-3 «Cyclone»

Power: 3200 l. from. (2366 kW)

On right:  This Dragon aircraft was repaired in the middle of the 1980's by a team led by Ascher Ward in Mojave. Shortly after being restored, it was sold to the US Air Force Museum, and today it belongs to the Heritage Museum at McHord Air Force Base, Washington.

The weight:

• BLANK: 8645 kg
• Maximum take-off: 13823 kg

Date of first flight: July 27, 1939

Aircraft performance characteristics:

• Maximum speed: 454 km / h

The remaining airworthy modifications: In-23 and UC-67

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