https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_A-3_Skywarrior#B-66_Destroyer
The Douglas A-3B Skywarrior (Also known as the A3D-2), is a carrier capable subsonic strategic bomber. It was capable of carrying up to 12,000 pounds of bombs in an internal bomb-bay, and was armed with twin remote-controlled 20mm cannons in the tail. With the addition of tier 6, I feel like this aircraft would be a perfect addition either to the strategic bomber line (after the B-57B), or after the FJ-4B in the navy attacker line. I would give it a BR of 8.0 or 9.0, owning to it's higher bomb-load and higher speed compared to the Il-28, a very similar competitor. This bomber would provide high tier allied teams with a fast, high capacity bomber with self defense capabilities. And generally, I find the 'Whale' to be a sexy and unique aircraft.
GENERAL SPECIFICATIONS (Taken from Wikipedia)
Crew: 3
Length: 76 ft 4 in (23.27 m)
Wingspan: 72 ft 6 in (22.10 m)
Height: 22 ft 9Β½ in (6.95 m)
Wing area: 812 ftΒ² (75.4 mΒ²)
Empty weight: 39,409 lb (17,876 kg)
Loaded weight: 70,000 lb (31,750 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 82,000 lb (37,195 kg)
Powerplant: 2 Γ Pratt & Whitney J57-P-10 turbojet, 10,500 lbf (46.7 kN) dry (12,400 lbf (55.3 kN with water injection))[37] each
Maximum speed: 530 knots (610 mph, 982 km/h) at 10,000 ft (3,050 m)
Cruise speed: 452 knots (520 mph, 837 km/h)
Range: 1,826 nmi (2,100 mi, 3,380 km)
Service ceiling: 41,000 ft (12,495 m)
Wing loading: 86.2 lb/ftΒ² (421 kg/mΒ²)
Guns: 2 20 mm M3L cannon in the tail turret[38]
Bombs: 12,800 pounds (5,800 kg) of free-fall bombs or mines,[38] including any combination of[8]
12 500 pounds (230 kg) Mark 82 bombs or
6 1,000 pounds (450 kg) Mark 83 bombs or
8 1,600 pounds (730 kg) armor-piercing bombs or
4 2,000 pounds (910 kg) bombs
1 free-fall nuclear weapon
Picture 1 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/85/Douglas_B-66B_Destroyer_in_flight_(SN_53-505)_061102-F-1234P-011.jpg
Picture 2 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/Douglas_B-66B_Destroyer_in_flight_(SN_53-505)_061102-F-1234P-012.jpg
General characteristics
Crew: 3 Length: 75 ft 2 in (22.9 m) Wingspan: 72 ft 6 in (22.1 m) Height: 23 ft 7 in (7.2 m) Wing area: 780 ftΒ² (72.5 mΒ²) Empty weight: 42,540 lb (19,300 kg) Loaded weight: 57,800 lb (26,200 kg) Max. takeoff weight: 83,000 lb (38,000 kg) Powerplant: 2 Γ Allison J71-A-11 or -13 turbojets, 10,200 lbf (45 kN) each
Performance
Maximum speed: 631 mph (548 kn, 1,020 km/h) Combat radius: 900 mi (780 nmi, 1,500 km) Ferry range: 2,470 mi (2,150 nmi, 3,970 km) Service ceiling: 39,400 ft (12,000 m) Rate of climb: 5,000 ft/min (25 m/s) Wing loading: 74.1 lb/ftΒ² (361.4 kg/mΒ²) Thrust/weight: 0.35
Armament
Guns: 2 20 mm M24 cannons in radar-controlled/remotely operated tail turret Bombs: 15000 lb (6,803.9 kg)
Avionics
APS-27 and K-5 radars
Sadly, radars.
1955
With the administration looking to reduce costs and duplication, one program that has come under severe criticism has been the US Air Force's B-66 Destroyer. The costly redesign to accommodate a new and less efficient engine, as well as other changes which have been deemed to be made 'for the sake of being different' have resulted in a major overhaul of the program. The new B-66 Destroyer will instead;
-
Continue to use the J57 engines also used on the A-3 Skywarrior for commonality and efficiency
-
The fuselage redesign will be scrapped, reduced merely to denavalized variants of the original design (fixed wing instead of folding, and lighter structure due to not needing to be launched from catapults, tailhook removed etc.)
-
The power system redesigns will be scrapped, due to the engine remaining the same
The overall goal of this program will result in a much less complex, cheaper, and more effective platform than envisioned, and one which also would have much lower production costs due to the continued use of existing assembly lines and parts.
This is my first Gaijin please post, so hopefully this all works out well and I don't mess something up.
GIANT DISCLAIMER HERE
Yes, I understand the meta of Air RB and that bombers are in a very weird state and that they either do not work or just end matches. I am making this post regardless in the idea that bombers end up receiving some sort of role in Air RB or RB EC becomes an actual thing.
#Douglas B-66B-DL Destroyer - The Bomber That Was Never A Bomber
The B-66 began as a modified A-3 Skywarrior and eventually grew to be an almost completely different aircraft despite the outward appearances. It first flew in June 1954 and was introduced into USAF service in 1956. The bomber version was designated B-66B with 72 being built, although several variants were created simultaneously for different purposes. The RB-66B was a photo-reconnaissance version with 149 being built. The RB-66C was an electronic reconnaissance and warfare version with 36 being built.
The vast majority of B-66B models constructed were converted to reconnaissance/electronic warfare models, and it is best known for flying recon missions over Soviet East Germany and in Vietnam. No B-66B ever dropped ordnance in combat.
Wiki Stats (with corrections/modifications/additions from flight manual)
Flight Manual: T.O. 1B-66B-1 / 15 January 1960 / Changed 24 April 1963
General Characteristics
- Crew: 3 (pilot, navigator, gunner)
- Length: 75 feet 2 inches / 22.91 meters
- Wingspan: 72 feet 6 inches / 22.10 meters
- Height: 23 feet 7 inches / 7.19 meters
- Wing Sweepback: 35 degrees 9 minutes
- Empty Weight: 42,549 lbs (19,300 kg)
- Gross Weight: 78,000 lbs (35,380 kg)
- Maximum Takeoff Weight: 83,000 lbs (37,648 kg)
- Powerplant: 2x Allison J71-A-13 axial flow turbojets
- Maximum Takeoff Thrust: 100.7% power - 10,200 lbf (45.3 kN) each at 6,175 RPM - Limited to 5 minutes of use
- Military Thrust: 99.5% power - 9,700 lbf (43.1 kN) each at 6,100 RPM
Performance Characteristics
- Maximum Speed (Sea Level): 565 knots IAS / Mach 0.86 / 1,046 km/h
- Maximum Speed (15,000 ft / 4,600 m): 482 knots IAS / Mach 0.95 / 893 km/h
- Cruise Speed: 459 knots / 850 km/h
- Combat Range: 782 nmi / 1,448 km
- **Rate of Climb
Guess
