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Lockheed B-37 Ventura

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B-37 (Wikipedia)

The Lockheed Ventura is a twin-engine medium bomber and patrol bomber of World War II.
The Ventura first entered combat in Europe as a bomber with the RAF in late 1942. Designated PV-1 by the United States Navy (US Navy), it entered combat in 1943 in the Pacific. The bomber was also used by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), which it the Lockheed B-34(Lexington) and B-37 as a trainer. British Commonwealth forces also used it in several guises, including antishipping and antisubmarine search and attack.
The Ventura was developed from the Lockheed Model 18 Lodestar transport, as a replacement for the Lockheed Hudson bombers then in service with the Royal Air Force. Used in daylight attacks against occupied Europe, they proved to have weaknesses and were removed from bomber duty and some used for patrols by Coastal Command.
After USAAF monopolization of land-based bombers was removed, the US Navy ordered a revised design which entered service as the PV-2 Harpoon for anti-submarine work.
At the start of the war, Lockheed proposed military conversions of the Lodestar for the RAF as replacement for the Hudson reconnaissance aircraft and the Bristol Blenheim bomber. The first British order was placed in February 1940 for 25 Model 32 as bombers. This was followed by an order for 300 Model 37 with Double Wasp engines, then for a further 375 later in 1940. Lockheed needed more production capacity and nearby Vega Aircraft Corporation was contracted for building the Ventura.

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General Characteristics

  • Created On iOS
  • Wingspan 72.4ft (22.1m)
  • Length 59.0ft (18.0m)
  • Height 19.9ft (6.1m)
  • Empty Weight 15,417lbs (6,993kg)
  • Loaded Weight 59,328lbs (26,911kg)

Performance

  • Horse Power/Weight Ratio 0.05
  • Wing Loading 64.6lbs/ft2 (315.2kg/m2)
  • Wing Area 919.0ft2 (85.4m2)
  • Drag Points 10495

Parts

  • Number of Parts 104
  • Control Surfaces 8
  • Performance Cost 598