Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster

Douglas · United States · first flew 1944 · bomber

The Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster was an experimental American bomber designed for a high top speed. Its two engines sat inside the fuselage and drove two contra-rotating propellers at the tail.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	2 × piston, embedded-mounted
F — Fuselage	Two Allison engines inside the fuselage driving contra-rotating pusher propellers at the tail
T — Tail	Cruciform

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Spot it by:

Two Allison engines inside the fuselage driving contra-rotating pusher propellers at the tail
Four-surface cruciform tail with a ventral fin and rudder carrying a tailwheel
Twin bubble canopies for pilot and co-pilot on the first prototype

A bomber with no propellers on the wings, two canopies and a tail cone ending in a pair of contra-rotating propellers.

Specifications

The Douglas XB-42 Mixmaster has a length of 16.36 m (54 ft).
It has a wingspan of 21.49 m (71 ft).
Its maximum speed is 660 km/h (410 mph).
Typical crew: 3.

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

It was developed as a private venture, proposed to the USAAF in May 1943, which ordered two prototypes. The first flew at Palm Springs on 6 May 1944.

Variants

Two prototypes were built, and a single bubble canopy replaced the twin canopies after the first flight of the second. An XA-42 attack version was also ordered at first.

Where you'll see it

The end of the Second World War and the arrival of jet bombers ended the programme. In December 1945 the second prototype flew from Long Beach to Washington in 5 hours 17 minutes, setting a transcontinental speed record.

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