Boeing_NB

Boeing NB

Boeing NB

Type of aircraft

The Boeing NB (or Model 21) was a primary training aircraft developed for the United States Navy in 1923. It was a two-bay, equal-span biplane of conventional configuration with interchangeable wheeled and float undercarriage. The pilot and instructor sat in tandem, open cockpits.

Quick Facts NB, Role ...

The NBs were produced in two batches; the first (NB-1) were powered by radial engines and the second by war-surplus V-8s still in the Navy's inventory. The original prototype evaluated by the Navy had been assessed as being too easy to fly, and therefore of limited use as a trainer. In particular, it was noted that the aircraft was impossible to spin. The NB-1 design attempted to introduce some instability, but it was soon discovered that while it was now possible to get the aircraft into a spin, it was virtually impossible to recover from one. A series of modifications were made to attempt a compromise.


Variants

An NB-1 floatplane at the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, in 1926.
  • VNB-1 - prototype (one built)
  • NB-1 - original production machine with Lawrance J-1 radial engine (41 built)
  • NB-2 - production machine with Wright-Hispano E engine (30 built)
  • NB-3 - one NB-1 with lengthened fuselage and modified empennage to improve handling, and Hispano-Suiza E engine. Later refitted to standard NB-1
  • NB-4 - one NB-1 converted similar to NB-3, but with Lawrance J-1 engine. Later refitted to standard NB-1

Operators

 United States
 Peru

Specifications (NB-1)

3-view line drawing of the Boeing NB

General characteristics

  • Crew: two, pilot and instructor
  • Length: 28 ft 9 in (8.76 m)
  • Wingspan: 36 ft 10 in (11.23 m)
  • Height: 11 ft 8 in (3.56 m)
  • Wing area: 344 sq ft (32.0 m2)
  • Empty weight: 2,136 lb (969 kg)
  • Gross weight: 2,837 lb (1,287 kg)
  • Powerplant: 1 × Lawrance J-1 , 200 hp (149 kW)

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 100 mph (160 km/h, 87 kn)
  • Range: 300 mi (480 km, 260 nmi)
  • Service ceiling: 10.200 ft (3,110 m)
  • Rate of climb: 510 ft/min (2.6 m/s)

Armament

  • 1 × trainable rearward-firing .30 machine gun (optional, for gunnery training)

References

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Boeing NB.
  • Taylor, Michael J. H. (1989). Jane's Encyclopedia of Aviation. London: Studio Editions. p. 170.
  • World Aircraft Information Files. London: Bright Star Publishing. pp. File 890 Sheet 51.
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