Curtiss XNBS-4

Curtiss XNBS-4
Role	Biplane night bomber
National origin	United States
Manufacturer	Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company
First flight	1924
Primary user	United States Army Air Corps
Number built	2
Developed from	Martin NBS-1

The Curtiss Model 36 XNBS-4 was a 1920s prototype biplane night bomber aircraft built by the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company for the United States Army Air Corps.^[1]

Development

The XNBS-4 was developed by Curtiss as an improvement on the Martin NBS-1. Two prototypes, AS68571 and AS68572, were built. The design did not enter production because it offered no significant improvement over the NBS-1.^[1]

Specifications

Data from National Museum of the United States Air Force^[2] and Aerofiles^[3]

General characteristics

• Crew: 4
• Length: 46 ft 6 in (14.17 m)
• Wingspan: 90 ft 2 in (27.48 m)
• Height: 15 ft 9 in (4.80 m)
• Gross weight: 13,795 lb (6,257 kg)
• Powerplant: 2 × Liberty L-12A V-12 water-cooled piston engines, 435 hp (324 kW) each

Performance

• Maximum speed: 100 mph (161 km/h; 87 kn) at sea level
• Cruise speed: 95 mph (83 kn; 153 km/h)
• Stall speed: 53 mph (46 kn; 85 km/h)
• Range: 620 mi (539 nmi; 998 km)
• Service ceiling: 13,000 ft (3,962 m)

Armament

• Guns: 5x 0.3 in (7.62 mm) machine-guns
• Bombs: 1,907 lb (865.0 kg)

References

1. "Factsheet: Curtiss XNBS-4". NMUSAF. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
2. "Curtiss XNBS-4 Technical Notes". National Museum of the United States Air Force. Retrieved 29 March 2015.
3. Eckland, K.O. "K through Z". aerofiles.com. Retrieved 31 March 2015.