The relatively thick wing held the promise of increased tankage while delivering increased lift and speed, but it became unpleasant to fly when committed to heavier loadings as experienced at high altitude and in bad weather. This gave the B-24 a 35-percent higher wing loading. Compared to the B-17, it had a 6 feet (1.8 m) larger wingspan but a lower wing area. This wing was highly efficient allowing a relatively high airspeed and long range. The B-24 had a shoulder-mounted high aspect ratio Davis wing. Project A led to the development of the Boeing B-29 and Consolidated's own B-32 and B-36. Although the B-24 did not meet Project A goals, it was a step in that direction. The program was run under the umbrella group, "Project A", an Air Corps requirement for an intercontinental bomber that had been conceived in the mid-1930s. The specification was written such that the Model 32 would automatically be the winning design. In January 1939, the USAAC, under Specification C-212, formally invited Consolidated to submit a design study for a bomber with longer range, higher speed and greater ceiling than the B-17. This new fuselage was intentionally designed around twin bomb bays, each one being the same size and capacity of the B-17 bomb bays. Davis's wing, a high-efficiency airfoil design created by unorthodox means, with the twin tail design from the Consolidated Model 31 flying boat, together on a new fuselage. The new Model 32 combined designer David R. After company executives including President Reuben Fleet visited the Boeing factory in Seattle, Washington, Consolidated decided instead to submit a more modern design of its own. The Liberator originated from a United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) request in 1938 for Consolidated to produce the B-17 under license. service, although the PB4Y-2 Privateer maritime patrol derivative carried on in service with the U.S. The C-87 transport derivative served as a longer range, higher capacity counterpart to the Douglas C-47 Skytrain.īy the end of World War II, the technological breakthroughs of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress and other modern types had surpassed the bombers that served from the start of the war. Long-range anti-submarine Liberators played an instrumental role in closing the Mid-Atlantic gap in the Battle of the Atlantic. Due to its range, it proved useful in bombing operations in the Pacific, including the bombing of Japan. Along with the B-17, the B-24 was the mainstay of the US strategic bombing campaign in the Western European theater. It saw use in every theater of operations. The B-24 was used extensively in World War II where it served in every branch of the American armed forces, as well as several Allied air forces and navies. At approximately 18,500 units – including 8,685 manufactured by Ford Motor Company – it holds records as the world's most produced bomber, heavy bomber, multi-engine aircraft, and American military aircraft in history. While aircrews tended to prefer the B-17, General Staff favored the B-24 and procured it in huge numbers for a wide variety of roles. In comparison with its contemporaries, the B-24 was relatively 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. Early Royal Air Force (RAF) Liberators were the first aircraft to routinely cross the Atlantic Ocean. The wing gave the Liberator a high cruise speed, long range and the ability to carry a heavy bomb load. It was known within the company as the Model 32, and some initial production aircraft were laid down as export models designated as various LB-30s, in the Land Bomber design category.Īt its inception, the B-24 was a modern design featuring a highly efficient shoulder-mounted, high aspect ratio Davis wing. The Consolidated B-24 Liberator is an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California.
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