Мировая Авиация 112

B-23 создавался на основе B-18, но был совершенно новым самолетом, хотя и не смог соперничать с B-17E.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N62G   [2], NC56249   [2]

The Confederate Air Force's B-23 N62G / 39-38 c/n 2724 at Harlingen 10.81 clearly shows the distinctive wing plan inherited from the DC-3.

Aeroplane Monthly 1986-04 / M.O'Leary - A Dragon bows out

The Dragon on its way from Mojave to McChord Air Force Base, where it will join an equally rare Douglas B-18 Bolo.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N52327   [4]

Another Dragon in former military colours, this is c/n 2722 N52327 seen 12.87 two years after it arrived at McChord AFB for the USAF Museum. The most obvious feature in this view is the glazed B-23 type nose which had been replaced by a longer solid nose by the time our picture in the last issue was taken in 1995.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N747M   [6], NC49548   [6]

C/n 2719 wearing only serial 39-33 after reverting to military markings with Al Hansen, seen at Reno, NV on 16.9.88

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N747M   [6], NC49548   [6]

As described last time, N747M c/n 2719 was an ex-Howard Hughes Machine. It was owned by "Douglas B-23 of Monterey Inc" when photographed at Salinas, California in June 1977.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N534J, N534C

C/n 2737 at the Pima Air Museum 10.87 is N534J and previously N534C, a factor which leads to much confusion when trying to read the faded registration marks on the fin!

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N86E

John W Mecom based his Dragon N86E c/n 2745 in Oman where it was used to support his oil interests. It was moved to Sharjah, as seen here c.1967, and then to Athens where together with his C-82 Packet N127E it was abandoned to the elements.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N52327   [4]

An even earlier view of N52327 at Boeing Field, Seattle WA in May 1977 where it was based to carry out atmospheric research for the University of Washington which eventually bought it. Note the observation dome ahead of the fin.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N880L   [2], N1G   [2], N244AG   [2], N409ME   [2], N8658E   [2]

C/n 2733 is displayed at Castle Air Museum as "112 MD" and is ex 39-47 and most recently N880L

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N4000B   [3]

Kermit Weeks' Dragon N4000B c/n 2743 painted in olive drab and coded "40 17B" is seen here looking rather weather-beaten and with the outer wing sections removed at the Weeks Museum, Tamiami, Florida 4.3.91. The following year it was even more weather beaten by a passing hurricane.

Aeroplane Monthly 1986-04 / M.O'Leary - A Dragon bows out

Even with its undercarriage down and engines throttled back, the Dragon cruised along at 160 m.p.h.

Aeroplane Monthly 1986-04 / M.O'Leary - A Dragon bows out

The Dragon on its way from Mojave to McChord Air Force Base, where it will join an equally rare Douglas B-18 Bolo.

Air-Britain Archive 2000-04 / J.Meaden - Howard Hughes - The Millionaire Record Breaker (4)

38 examples of the B-23 Dragon bomber were built and 12 converted to C-67 transports as 39-047 shown. Over 20 were sold postwar and Hughes purchased several as company transports.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-02 / J.Meaden - The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NR49811   [2], N49811   [2], N744Q   [2], NC49811   [2]

NR49811 on the rudder identifies this B-23 as c/n 2730 ex 39-044, another of Hughes' acquisitions, obtained 28.2.45. Here it is little altered from its service days and it was sold on to the National Supply Co 1.3.49. It became NC49811 and N49811 in 1948, by which time it had changed its military transparent nose for a more pointed one with a radar dish nosepiece, a common modification to civil conversions.

Flight 1940-04 / Flight

The Douglas B-23 bomber. It is not considered that machines of this class will be ordered by the Allies.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-02 / J.Meaden - The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street

This unidentified B-23 was used as a testbed by the General Electric Co during World War 2 with deepened engine nacelles housing turbo-superchargers in addition to the retractable undercarriage main legs. Four-blade propellers are fitted and the original observation nose is maintained. It is known that Pratt & Whitney used B-23 39-032 (c/n 2718) in military markings to test their 1,500 hp R-2800 14-cyl 2-row radial engine (1,850 hp for take off at 2,600 rpm). Another B-23 was used to test a Hamilton 6-blade contraprop on the port engine.

Авиация и Космонавтика 2015-06 / В.Бакурский, А.Фирсов - P-40 - солдат без наград

На этом снимке представлены все новейшие боевые самолеты, принятые на вооружение ВВС США накануне Второй мировой войны. В первом ряду стоят истребители P-40, P-39, P-43 и двухбалочный P-38. Позади - бомбардировщики B-17, B-18 (B-23 ???), B-25 и B-26

Другие самолёты на фотографии: Another planes on the photo: Bell P-39 Airacobra - СШАUSA - 1939Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - СШАUSA - 1935Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk - СШАUSA - 1939Lockheed P-38 Lightning - СШАUSA - 1939Martin B-26 Marauder / Type 179 - СШАUSA - 1940North American B-25 Mitchell / PBJ-1 - СШАUSA - 1940Republic P-43 Lancer - СШАUSA - 1940

Air Pictorial 1956-06 / J.Blake - U.S. Bomber designations 1919-56

Very little of the B-18 except wings and power plants was recognisable in the B-23. Span was 92 ft. Wright Cyclone R-2600-3s of 1.350 h.p. each were originally fitted, with constant-speed, fully-feathering airscrews, while later machines had the GR-2600-A5B of 1.600 h.p. The aircraft shown here has a solid nose in place of the original glazed bombardier's panels.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-02 / J.Meaden - The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N744Q   [2], N49811   [2], NC49811   [2], NR49811   [2]

A good photo of N744Q with no details given. (Editorial research reveals that this was c/n 2730, see NR49811, current 1966-69, so can anyone fill in the rest of this B-23's history?). The civil approval for the B-23/UC-67 was No.2-576 of 28.10.45 which listed two 1,600 hp Wright R-2600 engines.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-01 / ??? - Daly's Dragon

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N747M   [6], NC49548   [6]

Douglas Dragon N747M, in the colours of the FMC Corporation of San Jose, California.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-02 / J.Meaden - The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N409ME   [2], N1G   [2], N244AG   [2], N8658E   [2], N880L   [2]

N880L c/n 2733 ex 39-047 changed hands many times and spent time as N1G, N244AG, N8658E, N409ME (as above) and finally N880L. It still survives in the Castle Air Museum. Atwater, California where it is listed as a UC-67. The museum quotes N1G but this may be in doubt as a published photo showing N1G in the markings of the General Tire Co identified it as c/n 2716, 39-030.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-02 / J.Meaden - The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC56249   [2], N62G   [2]

NC56249 c/n 2724 ex 39-038 is seen with the Standard Oil Co of California carrying a Chevron Aviation Gasoline advertisement on the tail. It flew again re-registered N62G in 1980 and appeared in the Confederate Air Force show at Harlingen in that year in USAAC markings.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N41821

Dragon N41821 c/n 2723 wearing Westinghouse insignia seen about 1955. The pattern of cabin windows can be clearly seen - it would appear that few conversions ever matched!

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-01 / ??? - Daly's Dragon

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N747M   [6], NC49548   [6]

Douglas Dragon N747M, newly restored by World Airways, flying on September 9, 1978.

Aeroplane Monthly 1983-03

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N26G

The Confederate Air Force's Douglas B-23 Dragon, N26G, photographed by PETER MARCH.

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-01 / ??? - Daly's Dragon

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N747M   [6], NC49548   [6]

Aeroplane Monthly 1980-01 / ??? - Daly's Dragon

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N747M   [6], NC49548   [6]

N747M seen at Oakland Airport, California, in October 1970.
With its dragon namesake on the rudder, N747M c/n 2719 ex 39-033 was a late survivor of an example owned by Howard Hughes when civilianised 2.6.45 as NC49548. It became NC747 with Gar Wood 15.12.45. Hughes owned it again from 6.9.48 to 21.4.51 when it was sold to Rexall Drugs of Chicago and later to the FMC Corporation of San Jose, California. Edward J Daly, president and chairman of World Airways obtained it in 1977 and flew it in USAAC markings as a popular airshow item captained by his pilot Edwin Heering.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-02 / J.Meaden - The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N4000W, HC-APV, N400W

N4000W/N400W was not a Hughes aircraft but it had an interesting career none the less. For many years as seen here it was the PAA executive aircraft used by president Juan Trippe. It was re-registered 12.68 as HC-APV of Cia Ecuatoriana de Aviacion, Ecuador and appeared to still be in use when photographed 2.77 at Mariscal Sucre International Airport, Quito. It is now preserved at Quito in the Ecuadorian Air Museum.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-02 / J.Meaden - The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N4000B   [3]

N4000B c/n 2743 ex 39-57 was a late production B-23 manufactured in 1940. As a reconnaissance bomber it was reported to have served in the Panama Canal zone before being converted to a UC-67 transport. For the E W Scripps Co of Cincinatti it had 12 passenger seats in 2 compartments and a washroom. It was donated to Purdue University 19.11.69 and in 1970 was bought by Westair International, Broomfield and based in Florida in 1975. It was then purchased by Tom Page who painted it in olive drab 1941 markings and flew it in Confederate Air Force shows from 1976. It survives in the Weeks Air Museum, Miami, Florida.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-02 / J.Meaden - The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: NC44890

Another ex Hughes owned B-23, NC44890 c/n 2746 ex 39-060 seen at Hutchinson, Kansas in 1948 with a pointed nose. A number of B-23 bombers were converted to C-67/UC67 transports, these requiring little modification for civil use. NC44890 was not one of the long term survivors and was destroyed by fire on 20.10.51.

Air-Britain Archive 2000-04 / J.Meaden - Howard Hughes - The Millionaire Record Breaker (4)

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N52327   [4]

Hughes' B-23 transport conversion N52327 was preserved with the USAF Museum and is seen here at McChord Air Force Base in 1995. The Hughes modifications include a new nose and de-icing boots.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-02 / J.Meaden - The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N52327   [4]

Dragon N52327 c/n 2722 seen at the head of a row of USAF Museum aircraft at McChord AFB in 1995. Examination of its known history fails to turn up positive evidence that it was owned by Howard Hughes. It was obtained by Paul Mantz 16.5.45 and photographed 2.2.46 as NC52327 marked 'Paul Mantz Air Services'. It was popularly known at that time as the Honeymoon Express due to its use flying Hollywood couples to Las Vegas for speedy marriages, based then at Burbank.

Air-Britain Archive 2001-03 / The Douglas B-23/UC-67 Dragon in Civvy Street - postscript

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N100P

C/n 2714 as N100P seen c.1955 outside the premises of Atlantic Aviation whose winged logo can also be seen on the fin flash above that of the owners National Distillers. This conversion has a large picture window aft of the wing.

Aeroplane Monthly 2001-11 / News

Регистрационный номерRegistry number: N4000B   [3]

Douglas B-23 N4000B in its new home at Lakeland, Florida, in August 2001.