North American XB-28
North American Aviation · United States · first flew 1942 · bomber
The North American XB-28 was a twin-engine high-altitude medium bomber prototype developed as a pressurized successor to the B-25 Mitchell for the USAAF. It featured remote-controlled gun turrets and was optimized for high-altitude bombing.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 2 × piston, wing-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | 17.17 m fuselage |
| T — Tail | Conventional |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Pressurized twin-engine WWII medium bomber prototype
- Visually similar to the B-25 Mitchell but more streamlined
- Remote-controlled gun turrets replacing manual positions
Resembles an evolved B-25 with a more streamlined circular-section fuselage necessitated by pressurization; remote turrets and absence of a glass nose distinguish it from its contemporaries.
Specifications
- The North American XB-28 has a length of 17.17 m (56 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 22.1 m (73 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 599 km/h (372 mph).
- Typical crew: 5.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Developed from 1940 onwards, the XB-28 first flew in April 1942 and demonstrated strong performance including a top speed of nearly 600 km/h. However, the USAAF by that point had concluded that medium bombers were most useful at low altitude where pressurization was unnecessary, and the type was cancelled after just two prototypes.
Variants
Two prototypes were built — the XB-28 bomber and an XB-28A photo-reconnaissance variant — but no production followed.
Where you'll see it
The XB-28 never entered operational service; both prototypes were used for testing before being scrapped.
Related aircraft
- North American A-36 Apache
- North American P-51B/C Mustang
- North American B-25J Mitchell
- North American NA-16-5
- Aichi B7A Ryusei
- Avro Lancaster B.III
- B-29 Superfortress
- Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress
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