Boeing F3b Article Index for
Boeing
Website Links For
Boeing
 

Information About

Boeing F3b




Designed by the company as its Model 74, the plane was an incremental improvement over the F2B . The Navy-designated prototype '''XF3B-1''' still had the tapered wings of the F2B for instance, but was built as a single-float Seaplane . However, the growing use of Aircraft Carrier s took away most of the need for floating fighters, and by the time other test results had been taken into account, the production F3B-1 had a larger upper wing that was slightly swept back and a redesigned tail with surfaces made from corrugated aluminum.

It first flew on February 3 , 1928 , turning in a respectable performance and garnering Boeing a contract for 73 more. F3Bs served as Fighter Bomber s for some five years, during which period some were fitted with Townsend Ring s and others with streamlined wheel fairings.


REFERENCES

  • Lloyd S. Jones, ''U.S. Naval Fighters'' (Fallbrook CA: Aero Publishers, 1977, ISBN 0-8168-9254-7), pp. 60-62