Keystone B-3

Last updated
B-3A
Keystone B-3A (SN 30-281).jpg
Keystone B-3A (S/N 30-281), the first B-3A built.
Role Bomber
Manufacturer Keystone Aircraft
StatusRetired
Primary user United States Army Air Corps
Number built63 B-3A/B-5
Variants Keystone B-4, B-5 & B-6

The Keystone B-3A was a bomber aircraft developed for the United States Army Air Corps by Keystone Aircraft in the late 1920s.

Contents

Design and development

The B-3 was originally ordered as the LB-10A (a single-tail modification of the Keystone LB-6), but the Army dropped the LB- 'light bomber' designation in 1930.

Although the performance of the B-3A was hardly better than that of the bombers flown at the end of World War I, it had come a long way in terms of flight safety.

Operational history

The B-3A was a member of the last family of biplanes operated by the US Army; it remained in service until 1940. A few years after it was first produced, the introduction of all-metal monoplanes rendered it almost completely obsolete.

Variants

LB-10
The last of the 17 LB-6s ordered (S/N 29-27) was converted with a re-designed single fin and rudder and two 525 hp Wright R-1750E engines. Delivered to Wright Field on 7 July 1929, it was wrecked on 12 November 1929.
LB-10A
This version used Pratt and Whitney R-1690-3 Hornet engines and was slightly smaller, in both wingspan and length. A total of 63 were ordered (S/N 30-281/343). All were re-designated as the B-3A before any deliveries were made, with the final 27 built as B-5A with Wright engines.
B-3A
Ordered as LB-10A, 36 delivered as B-3A (S/N 30-281/316). The first aircraft was delivered in October 1930.
B-5A
Ordered as B-3A, re-engined with Wright R-1750-3 Cyclone engines, 27 built (S/N 30-317/343).

Operators

Flag of the United States (1912-1959).svg  United States
Flag of the Philippines (navy blue).svg  Philippines

Specifications (B-3A)

General characteristics

Performance

Armament

See also

Related development

Related lists

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin B-10</span> American bomber aircraft

The Martin B-10 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber to be regularly used by the United States Army Air Corps, entering service in June 1934. It was also the first mass-produced bomber whose performance was superior to that of the Army's pursuit aircraft of the time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas B-18 Bolo</span> American twin-engined heavy bomber aircraft in service 1936-1946

The Douglas B-18 Bolo is an American heavy bomber which served with the United States Army Air Corps and the Royal Canadian Air Force during the late 1930s and early 1940s. The Bolo was developed by the Douglas Aircraft Company from their DC-2 as a replacement for the Martin B-10.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtiss Falcon</span> American multirole aircraft

The Curtiss Falcon was a family of military biplane aircraft built by the American aircraft manufacturer Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company during the 1920s. Most saw service as part of the United States Army Air Corps as observation aircraft with the designations O-1 and O-11, or as the attack aircraft designated the A-3 Falcon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas SBD Dauntless</span> Scout and dive bomber aircraft

The Douglas SBD Dauntless is a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD was the United States Navy's main carrier-based scout/dive bomber from mid-1940 through mid-1944. The SBD was also flown by the United States Marine Corps, both from land air bases and aircraft carriers. The SBD is best remembered as the bomber that delivered the fatal blows to the Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway in June 1942. The type earned its nickname "Slow But Deadly" during this period, along with a rarely-used accompanying nickname of "Furious D."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas A-20 Havoc</span> American light bomber and attack aircraft of World War II

The Douglas A-20 Havoc is an American light bomber, attack aircraft, night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtiss B-2 Condor</span> 1929 bomber aircraft family by Curtiss

The Curtiss B-2 Condor was a 1920s United States bomber aircraft. It was a descendant of the Martin NBS-1, which was built by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company for the Glenn L. Martin Company. There were a few differences, such as stronger materials and different engines, but they were relatively minor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keystone B-4</span> American bomber aircraft

The Keystone B-4 was a biplane bomber, built by the Keystone Aircraft company for the United States Army Air Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keystone B-5</span> Type of aircraft

The Keystone B-5 is a light bomber made by the Keystone Aircraft company for the United States Army Air Corps in the early 1930s. The B-5A was a Keystone B-3A with Wright Cyclone rather than Pratt & Whitney engines.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keystone B-6</span> Biplane bomber of the United States Army Air Corps

The Keystone B-6 was a biplane bomber developed by the Keystone Aircraft company for the United States Army Air Corps.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Douglas Y1B-7</span> American bomber/observation aircraft

The Douglas Y1B-7 was a 1930s American bomber aircraft. It was the first US monoplane given the B- 'bomber' designation. The monoplane was more practical and less expensive than the biplane, and the United States Army Air Corps chose to experiment with monoplanes for this reason. At the time the XB-7 was ordered, it was being tested by Douglas Aircraft as an observational plane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing YB-9</span> Prototype bomber aircraft by Boeing

The Boeing YB-9 was the first all-metal monoplane bomber aircraft designed for the United States Army Air Corps. The YB-9 was a much enlarged twin-engine development of Boeing's single-engine Model 200 Monomail commercial transport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Curtiss A-18 Shrike</span> American attack aircraft

The Curtiss A-18Model 76A Shrike II was a 1930s United States twin-engine ground-attack aircraft. It was the production test version of that company's A-14 Shrike.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing Model 15</span> American fighter aircraft

The Boeing Model 15 was a United States single-seat open-cockpit biplane fighter aircraft of the 1920s, manufactured by the Boeing company. The Model 15 saw service with the United States Army Air Service and with the United States Navy as a carrier-based fighter.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Voisin III</span> French WW1 bomber aircraft

The Voisin III was a French World War I two-seat pusher biplane multi-purpose aircraft developed by Voisin in 1914 as a more powerful version of the 1912 Voisin L. It is notable for being the aircraft used for the first successful shooting down of an enemy aircraft on October 5, 1914, and to have been used to equip the first dedicated bomber units, in September 1914.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keystone LB-6</span> 1927 bomber aircraft family by Keystone

The Keystone LB-6 and LB-7 were 1920s American light bombers, built by the Keystone Aircraft company for the United States Army Air Corps, called Panther by the company, but adoption of the name was rejected by the U.S. Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">20th Bomb Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 20th Bomb Squadron is a unit of the 2d Operations Group of the United States Air Force located at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The 20th is equipped with the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">28th Bomb Squadron</span> US Air Force unit

The 28th Bomb Squadron is a squadron of the United States Air Force. It is assigned to the 7th Operations Group, Global Strike Command, stationed at Dyess Air Force Base, Texas. The squadron is equipped with the Rockwell B-1B Lancer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin NBS-1</span> American bomber aircraft in service 1920-1929

The Martin NBS-1 was a military aircraft of the United States Army Air Service and its successor, the Army Air Corps. An improved version of the Martin MB-1, a scout-bomber built during the final months of World War I, the NBS-1 was ordered under the designation MB-2 and is often referred to as such. The designation NBS-1, standing for "Night Bomber-Short Range", was adopted by the Air Service after the first five of the Martin bombers were delivered.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Martin T3M</span> Type of aircraft

The Martin T3M was an American torpedo bomber of the 1920s. A single-engined three-seat biplane, it became a standard torpedo bomber of the U.S. Navy, operating from both land bases and from aircraft carriers from 1926 to 1932.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Keystone LB-5</span> 1927 bomber aircraft series by Keystone/Huff-Daland

The Keystone LB-5 was a bomber aircraft produced in the United States in the late 1920s. Its manufacturer nicknamed it the Pirate, but this name was not officially adopted by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC).

References

Notes
  1. "Fact Sheet – Keystone B-3A." National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved: 14 July 2017.
Bibliography