Miloch <Miloch_member@newsguy.com> wrote in
news:nnkvq701dah@drn.newsguy.com:
> https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-24_Liberator
>
> The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed
> by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. It was known within
> the company as the Model 32, and some initial models were laid down as
> export models designated as various LB-30s, in the Land Bomber design
> category.
>
> At its inception, the B-24 was a modern design featuring a highly
> efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing. The wing
> gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to
> carry a heavy bomb load. Early RAF Liberators were the first aircraft
> to cross the Atlantic Ocean as a matter of routine. However, the type
> was difficult to fly and had poor low speed performance. It also had a
> lower ceiling and was less robust than the Boeing B-17 Flying
> Fortress. While aircrews tended to prefer the B-17, General Staff
> favored the B-24, and procured it for a wide variety of roles.
>
> The B-24 was used extensively in World War II. It served in every
> branch of the American armed forces, as well as several Allied air
> forces and navies, and saw use in every theater of operations. Along
> with the B-17, the B-24 was the mainstay of the US strategic bombing
> campaign in the Western European theater. Due to its range, it proved
> useful in bombing operations in the Pacific, including the bombing of
> Japan. Long range anti-submarine Liberators played an instrumental
> role in closing the Mid-Atlantic Gap in the Battle of the Atlantic.
> The C-87 transport derivative served as a longer range, higher
> capacity counterpart to the Douglas C-47 Skytrain.
>
> Role
> Heavy bomber
> Anti-submarine warfare
> Maritime patrol aircraft
>
> Manufacturer
> Consolidated Aircraft
>
> First flight
> 29 December 1939
>
> Introduction
> 1941
>
> Retired
> 1968 (Indian Air Force)
>
> Primary users
> United States Army Air Forces
> United States Navy
> Royal Air Force
> Royal Australian Air Force
>
> Produced
>
> Number built
> 19,256[citation needed]
>
> Unit cost
>
> $297,627 ($4.79 million in today's dollars)
>
>
> Variants
> Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
> Consolidated C-87 Liberator Express
> Consolidated Liberator I
>
> Developed into
> Consolidated R2Y
>
> The B-24 had a shoulder mounted high aspect ratio Davis wing. This
> wing was highly efficient allowing a relatively high airspeed and long
> range. Compared to the B-17 it had a 6-foot larger wingspan, but a
> lower wing area. This gave the B-24 a 35% higher wing loading. The
> relatively thick wing held the promise of increased tankage while
> delivering increased lift and speed, but became unpleasant to fly when
> committed to heavier loadings as experienced at high altitude and in
> bad weather. The Davis wing was also more susceptible to ice formation
> than contemporary designs, distortions of the aerofoil section causing
> loss of lift (unpleasant experiences drawing such comments as 'The
> Davis wing won't hold enough ice to chill your drink'.) [9] The wing
> was also more susceptible to damage than the B-17's wing, making the
> aircraft less able to absorb battle damage. The wing carried four
> supercharged radial engines mounted in cowlings borrowed from the PBY
> Catalina (except being oval in cross-section, with oil coolers mounted
> on each side of the engine), turning 3-bladed variable pitch
> propellers.
>
> The tail plane featured two large oval vertical stabilizers mounted at
> the ends of a rectangular horizontal stabilizer. As early as 1942, it
> was recognized that the Liberator's handling and stability could be
> improved by the use of a single vertical fin. The single fin was
> tested by Ford on the single B-24ST and an experimental XB-24K, and
> was found to improve handling. All Liberators were produced with twin
> oval fins, with the exception of eight preproduction B-24N aircraft.
> The B-24N was intended as a major production variant featuring a
> single tail. Over 5000 orders for this version were placed in 1945,
> but were cancelled due to the end of the war. The single fin did
> appear in production on the PB4Y Privateer derivative.[
>
>
> Specifications (B-24J)
>
> General characteristics
> Crew: 11 (pilot, co-pilot, navigator, bombardier, radio operator, nose
> turret, top turret, 2 waist gunners, ball turret, tail gunner)
> Length: 67 ft 8 in (20.6 m)
> Wingspan: 110 ft 0 in (33.5 m)
> Height: 18 ft 0 in (5.5 m)
> Airfoil: Davis 22% / Davis 9.3%
> Empty weight: 36,500 lb (16,590 kg)
> Loaded weight: 55,000 lb (25,000 kg)
> Max. takeoff weight: 65,000 lb (29,500 kg)
> radial engines, 1,200 hp (900 kW) each
> Zero-lift drag coefficient: 0.0406
> Drag area: 42.54 sq ft (3.952 m2)
> Aspect ratio: 11.55
>
> Performance
> Maximum speed: 290 mph (250 kn, 488 km/h)
> Cruise speed: 215 mph (187 kn, 346 km/h)
> Stall speed: 95 mph (83 kn, 153 km/h)
> Range: 2,100 mi (1,800 nautical miles (3,300 kilometres))
> Ferry range: 3,700 mi (3,200 nmi (5,900 km))
> Service ceiling: 28,000 ft (8,500 m)
> Rate of climb: 1,025 ft/min (5.2 m/s)
> Power/mass: 0.0873 hp/lb (144 W/kg)
>
> Lift-to-drag ratio: 12.9
>
> Armament
>
> and two waist positions
>
>
In spite of all the good work done by the B-24, I have
little regard for it. I read Louis Zamperini's book a
long time ago. Read it long before the be-nice-to-Japs
movie. The 24 was a bucket of bolts. Louis wasn't the
only one I've heard express this. Read more slams by
those who flew it. Sorry if my opinion has offended a
few in here.
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