Boeing FB-3

[Ralph0923]

I'm doing some minor research on early Boeing aircraft, I came across some information that doesn't quite jive. According all sources that cover the subject state that the Boeing FB-3 is a one off aircraft. When cheching the BuNo I found another listing for two more FB-3s. The one off listing is BuNo A6897 however there is another listing BuNo A7089 & A7090, both listed as Boeing FB-3. Does anyone have information that could clear this up.

[Sreiko]

Only to ask a friend of mine who is informed about this field.

[Old Man]

Originally Posted by Ralph0923

I'm doing some minor research on early Boeing aircraft, I came across some information that doesn't quite jive. According all sources that cover the subject state that the Boeing FB-3 is a one off aircraft. When cheching the BuNo I found another listing for two more FB-3s. The one off listing is BuNo A6897 however there is another listing BuNo A7089 & A7090, both listed as Boeing FB-3. Does anyone have information that could clear this up.

The first FB-3, delivered as a float-plane and equipped with a Packard motor instead of a Curtiss, crashed towards the end of 1925. Two more planes were ordered under the same designation, and delivered in April of 1926. These were fitted with a split-axle carriage like the service FB-1, however, though they employed the same Packard motor. They were used for trials towards curing the basic design's tendency towards longitudinal instability at high speeds, and fitted with a redesigned, larger vertical tail surface. They were in effect prototypes for the FB-5, which employed the new tail surface and the Packard motor, as well as sharply staggered wings, and went into service in 1928, if recollection serves. The 'one-off' applies to the float-plane FB-3, not to the designation of a follow on type of FB-1 with a Packard motor instead of a Curtiss. I have read that the two FB-2s produced for carrier operation trials were at one time fitted with Packards, but in any case these were soon put into standard FB-1 configuration and issued to the Marine Corps, where the joined the ten original FB-1s. The FB-4 was a one-off, delivered with floats and a Wright radial motor, then the floats were replaced with an FB-1 style undercarriage, and a Pratt-Whitney radial substituted for the Wright; in this form it was designated FB-6. This machine is properly considered the ancestor of the later, much better known P-12/F4B fighters.

[Ampovandak]

There are 2 pictures of both Radial and V-engined aircrafts in "Boeing aircraft since 1916", by Peter M. Bowers, Ed. Putnam / Naval institute Press, 1989 pages 21 and 91 ;

You will find them in your private message box.

In more than Old Man's contibution, text adds :
- First one was the 13th of the initial FB Navy order,
- Lost in November 1925 in Lake Washington,
- C/ns : 750, 802, 803

By the way, about copyrights, can somebody tell me what kind of pictures I can post, and what kind are not allowed here ???

[AAC Cadet Leader]

check your inbox.

[AAC Cadet Leader]

thread re-opened.

[Kaiser Bill]

In box??? What is that for and where would one find it.??
For me this is a very difficult site to navigate anyway... extremely hard to understand.

Kaiser Bill

[Ralph0923]

Greetings
Thank you all for the information you gave me, I had no idea as to what the extensive linage of this aircraft was. Your information set me on a very interesting track.