Douglas 1211-J

Douglas Model 1211-J
Role Heavy bomber
Manufacturer Douglas Aircraft Company
Status Design only
Primary user United States Air Force

The Douglas 1211-J was a bomber aircraft design developed by American aircraft manufacturer Douglas to compete with the Boeing B-52 design for a major U.S. Air Force contract between 1946 and 1954. The Model 1211-J design was 160 feet long with a wingspan of 227 feet, and was powered by four turboprop engines. The aircraft was designed around a new 43,000-pound conventional bomb but could carry nuclear weapons as well. It could also carry its own fighter escorts, as parasites under its wings. These fighters' jet engines were to be powered up to assist the carrier bomber during takeoff; refueling of the fighters was to take place while they were stowed on the mothership's underwing pylons.[1]

Specifications

Data from [2]

General characteristics

  • Length: 160 ft 6 in (48.92 m)
  • Wingspan: 227 ft 6 in (69.34 m)
  • Gross weight: 322,000 lb (146,057 kg)
  • Powerplant: 4 × Pratt & Whitney T57 turboprop engines, 15,000 shp (11,000 kW) each

Performance

  • Maximum speed: 450 kn (518 mph; 833 km/h)
  • Range: 11,000 nmi (12,659 mi; 20,372 km)
  • Service ceiling: 50,000 ft (15,000 m)

Armament

  • Guns: 2x 20 mm (0.787 in) cannon
  • Bombs: 2x 2,000 lb (907.185 kg) bombs
  • 2x TV-guided bombs

References

  1. ↑ Aldaz, John; Cox, George (January 2010). "The Do Everything Bomber". Air & Space magazine. Retrieved Nov 20, 2012.
  2. ↑ Butler, Tony (2010). American Secret Projects. Hinckley, England: Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-331-0.

Further reading

  • "Science: Bombers". Time Magazine. February 26, 1951. Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  • Marson, Peter J. "Douglas 1211-J". Retrieved November 24, 2012.
  • Zichek, Jared A. (May 10, 2011). "The B-52 Competition of 1946...and Dark Horses from Douglas, 1947-1950". American Aerospace Archive. MagCloud (3). ISSN 1943-9636.
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