Witteman-Lewis XNBL-1

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Witteman-Lewis_XNBL-1

The Wittemann-Lewis NBL-1 "Barling Bomber" was an experimental long-range, heavy
bomber built for the United States Army Air Service in the early 1920s. Although
unsuccessful as a bomber, it was an early attempt at creating a strategic
bomber.

Development of the XNBL-1 (Experimental Night Bomber, Long Range) Barling Bomber
is generally attributed (the press called it "Mitchell's Folly") to William
"Billy" Mitchell, a U.S.Army Air Service General and most vocal advocate of
strategic airpower, who in 1919 discovered Walter H. Barling, who had previously
worked for the Royal Aircraft Factory. Mitchell asked Barling to design a bomber
capable of carrying enough bombs to sink a battleship. Mitchell's goal was to
demonstrate the effectiveness of airpower by sinking a battleship from the air,
and needed a large, strategic bomber in order to accomplish this feat. Mitchell
projected the cost of two prototype bombers at $375,000. On 15 May 1920, the
Army Engineering Division sought bids for the construction of a bomber based on
Barling's sketches, with the requirement that it be capable of carrying a 5,000
lb (2,300 kg) bomb load, to an altitude of 10,000 ft (3,000 m) at a speed of no
less than 100 mph (160 km/h).

The Barling was armed with seven .30-caliber Lewis machine guns, which were
operated from five stations. The gun stations gave the gunners a field of fire
that covered practically the whole area around the bomber. Bomb racks were
mounted in an enclosed bomb bay beneath the gasoline tanks. The bomb bay could
accommodate any bomb in the air service inventory, including the 2,000- and
4,000-lb bombs that had been designed specifically to sink a battleship. The
Barling incorporated bomb bay doors on the bottom of the fuselage, one of the
first aircraft to feature such an innovation.

Production

The winning bid for construction of the massive bomber went to the
Wittemann-Lewis Company of Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey. They received a
contract to construct two aircraft at a cost of $375,000. Due to increased costs
and the number of design changes required, the order was cut to one. By the time
the aircraft was completed in October 1922, the cost had risen from $375,000 for
two bombers to $525,000 for one.

Wittemann-Lewis had to absorb the cost overrun, and went out of business a few
months after shipping the completed aircraft to Ohio.

There were only six airfields in the country large enough to accommodate the
massive bomber, and after careful consideration the decision was made to base it
at Wilbur Wright Field in Fairborn, Ohio (then known as Fairfield) because of
its close proximity to McCook Field, and its resources. The bomber was shipped
by rail to Wilbur Wright Field in Fairfield, Ohio in May 1923. After 94 days of
assembly, the aircraft was ready for its maiden flight.


Role
Heavy bomber

Manufacturer
Wittemann-Lewis

Designer
Walter Barling

First flight
22 August 1923

Retired
1928

Primary user
United States Army Air Service

Number built
1

Unit cost

$525,000 ($7.72 million in today's dollars)

On 22 August 1923, the Barling Bomber made its maiden flight from Wilbur Wright
Field in Fairfield, Ohio. At the time, it was by far the heaviest aircraft in
the world, and remains large even by today's standards. On its first flight, it
was piloted by Lt. Harold R. Harris, and Lt. Muir S. Fairchild, future U.S. Air
Force Vice Chief of Staff. The flight engineer was Douglas Culver. Barling flew
along as a passenger. Critics had claimed that the bomber would roll all the way
to Dayton before it ever took off, but the aircraft became airborne after a
13-second, 960 ft (290 m) takeoff run. The flight lasted 28 minutes and reached
an altitude of 2,000 ft (609 m).

On 3 October 1924, the aircraft set a duration record of 1 hour 47 minutes for
an aircraft "with 8,820 lbs (4,000 kgs ) useful load". It also set a record in
the same class for altitude with 4,470 ft (1,363 m).

Although capable of carrying a 5,000 lb (2,300 kg) bomb load, it was soon
discovered that the aircraft was seriously underpowered, and performance was
disappointing. The overly complex structure of three wings and their
accompanying struts and bracing wires created so much interference drag that the
six engines could barely compensate. Fully loaded, the XNBL-1 had a range of
only about 170 miles (270 km) with a top speed of 96 mph (155 km/h). In
contrast, the "short-range" Martin NBS-1 had a range of about 450 miles (725 km)
and could carry a 2,000 lb (900 kg) payload at the same speed. On a flight from
Dayton, Ohio to a scheduled appearance at an airshow in Washington, DC, the
Barling Bomber failed to fly over the Appalachian Mountains and had to turn
around.

A problem with water collecting in the aircraft's wings during rainstorms
necessitated the construction of a special hangar at a cost of $700,000. The
hangar was constructed in 1925 at the nearby Fairfield Air Depot.

Frequently characterized by opponents of airpower as "Mitchell’s Folly" (after
Brig.-Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell, who had championed the project), in 1927,
the aircraft was disassembled by Air Service personnel and placed in storage at
the Fairfield Air Depot. In 1929, then-Major Henry H. "Hap" Arnold was assigned
as commander of the Fairfield Air Depot. He submitted a Report of Survey to the
Office of the Chief of Air Corps, asking permission to salvage parts from the
stored bomber, and burn the rest. Several members of Congress still held an
interest in the aircraft, and the request was denied. Maj. Arnold then submitted
a similar request to burn the "XNBL-1", omitting any mention of the name
"Barling". That request was approved, and the bomber was burned at Fairfield in
1930.

Although the Barling Bomber was considered a failure at the time, it led the way
in the development of large, strategic bombers. Even Gen. "Hap" Arnold, who
ordered it destroyed, later stated "if we look at it without bias, certainly
[the Barling] had influence on the development of B-17s... and B-29s.

Specifications

General characteristics
Crew: Seven (two pilots, five gunners)
Length: 65 ft (19.81 m)
Wingspan: 120 ft (36.58 m)
Height: 27 ft (8.23 m)
Wing area: 4,017 sq ft (373.2 m²)
Empty weight: 27,132 lb (12,307 kg)
Loaded weight: 42,569 lb (19,309 kg)
Powerplant: 6 × Liberty L-12A, 420 hp (313 kW) each

Performance
Maximum speed: 96 mph (83 knots, 155 km/h) at sea level
Cruise speed: 61 mph (53 knots, 98 km/h)
Range: 170 mi (149 km, 274 km) with full bomb load (varied by bomb load carried)
Service ceiling: 7,725 ft (2,355 m)

Armament

Guns: 7 × .30 cal (7.62 mm) machine guns
Bombs: Up to 5,000 lb (2300 kg) bomb load




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