North American XB-21 Dragon

North American Aviation · United States · first flew 1936 · bomber

The North American XB-21 Dragon was a twin-engine heavy bomber prototype evaluated by the US Army Air Corps in 1936 as a potential successor to the Martin B-10. Though it offered impressive performance, it lost the production contract to the cheaper Douglas B-18 Bolo.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, tapered
E — Engines	2 × piston, wing-mounted
F — Fuselage	17.83 m fuselage
T — Tail	Conventional

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Spot it by:

1930s twin-engine US Army bomber prototype
Large radial engines in long-chord cowlings
Crew of up to 8, multiple defensive gun positions

A large, angular twin-engine monoplane with a stepped multi-panel nose greenhouse, prominent engine nacelles with long-chord cowlings, multiple gun turret positions, and a broad shoulder-mounted wing — looking like a transitional design between the B-10 era and the B-17.

Specifications

The North American XB-21 Dragon has a length of 17.83 m (58 ft).
It has a wingspan of 31.24 m (102 ft).
Its maximum speed is 398 km/h (247 mph).
Typical crew: 5-8.

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

History

First flown in December 1936, the XB-21 was technologically advanced with retractable undercarriage, multiple gun positions, and good range. However, the Douglas B-18 was selected for mass production primarily on cost grounds despite the XB-21's superior performance. Only the prototype was built.

Variants

Only one prototype was constructed; no production variants existed.

Where you'll see it

Never entered service; the sole prototype was used for testing and evaluation by the USAAC before being scrapped.

Related aircraft

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