Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK-1
Kaiser-Fleetwings · United States · first flew 1945 · bomber
The Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK was an American dive and torpedo bomber developed for the United States Navy from 1944.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Low-mounted, straight |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, nose-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Horizontal tail mounted on the fin above the fuselage |
| T — Tail | T-tail |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Single radial-engined dive and torpedo bomber
- Horizontal tail mounted on the fin above the fuselage
- Unusual engine exhausts placed almost aft of the cockpit
A single-seat bomber with a Pratt & Whitney R-2800 and picket-fence dive brakes at the inboard trailing edge.
Specifications
- The Kaiser-Fleetwings XBTK-1 has a length of 11.86 m (39 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 14.83 m (49 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 600 km/h (373 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
The XBK programme began in February 1944 and became the XBTK when torpedo capability was added. The first flight was on 12 April 1945.
Variants
Five were built, two of them flying prototypes.
Where you'll see it
Trials found engine cooling and vibration problems. The contract was terminated in September 1946, as the Douglas AD Skyraider filled the role.
Related aircraft
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