~~~~ OPERATIONAL AT HIGHEST SETTINGS ~~~~
(Mobile users may need to turn down land and water graphics)

VTOL Slider = Nose Turret control

The Boeing XPBB-1 Sea Ranger, built for the U.S. Navy, was an extremely long-range flying boat patrol bomber. It was the largest twin-engine airplane built until the time of its first flight in 1942. The Sea Rangers were designed for a "boosted takeoff" by being catapulted from huge barges. Although the normal range of the aircraft was 4,245 miles, designers believed this distance could double if fuel was saved by the catapulted takeoff.

The defensive armament of the PBB consisted of five powered turrets equipped with Browning .50 M2 machine guns. They were installed in the nose, in the tail, on the upper fuselage just aft of the trailing edge of the wing, and in two waist positions on the rear fuselage.

The prototype, designated XPBB-1, made its first flight on 9 July 1942. The aircraft handled very well and was considered technically successful. However, already in 1942 the PBB program had been cancelled. The need for a long-range flying boat had been reduced by the ability of land planes to fly long-range missions over the ocean. Furthermore, construction of a small number of PBB-1s would have a negative impact on the production rate of the B-29.

Despite suggestions that more aircraft might be built in the coming years, the XPPB-1 remained the single example of the type, and was accordingly nicknamed "Lone Ranger".

Because it was so hard to piece together, I couldn't implement a Bomb-bay. Instead, I made a functioning gun turret in the nose that does not disrupt the flight characteristics when it is rotated to one side or the other. As it is a heavy bomber, I made it slow to roll, but the pitch is surprisingly responsive.

To take off, begin in the water and punch the throttle all the way, and hold back on the stick until you are airborne (this should happen near 130 MPH). Reduce the throttle to 80% to maintain level flight below 5000 feet ASL.

This is a very fun plane to do touch-and-goes in the water, and it has incredible range. I think it's going to be my go-to plane in the multiplayer Fire-Fighting missions. Enjoy!