Boeing B-17 Performance

WAR DEPARTMENT
AIR CORPS, MATERIEL DIVISION
November 22, 1941

MEMORANDUM REPORT ON
Boeing B-17E Airplane, A.C. No. 41-2399

Subject:Acceptance Performance Tests
Section:Flying Branch
Serial No.:PHQ-M-19-1315-A

A.Purpose
 
 1.To report on acceptance performance tests conducted at the manufacturer's plant on the B-17E airplane, A.C. No. 41-2399. Airplane equipped with four (4) Wright R-1820-65 engines with torque meters; exhaust driven turbo superchargers; 3-bladed constant speed propellers, blade design No. 6153A-18, blade angle range 21° - 88° at 42" radius. Landing gear retracted, wing flaps neutral, inter-cooler shutters wide open unless otherwise specified. Airplane loaded to design gross weight of 40,260 lbs., c.g. location 28.4%, except for range tests. De-icer equipment in place, marker beacon, radio compass, liaison and command set antennae in place. Airplane not camouflaged, armament in stowed position. (two .50 cal.guns in tail, two .50 cal. guns in top fuselage turret, and two ,50 cal. guns in belly turret. Nose guns not in place but supporting brackets installed in windows and nose.)

B.Test Results
 
 1.Level flight speeds; cowl flaps closed:

 
Altitude
Ft.
True
Speed
MPH
B.H.P.
per
Engine
R.P.M.Specific Fuel
Consumption
"Auto Lean"
Lb/BHP/Hr
Specific Fuel
Consumption
"Auto Rich"
Lb/BHP/Hr

25,200317.012002500--
25,200297.010002300--
25,200261.0  7502000--
25,200202.0  4751750--

15,000289.012002500--
15,000271.510002300-.63
15,000243.0  7502000.48  .525
15,000228.0  6501900.44.50
15,000219.0  6001800.44  .495
15,000210.0  5501650.44.49
15,000194.0  4751550  .445.49
15,000178.0  4151450.45  .495
15,000143.0  3651350--

  5,000250.010002300--
  5,000214.0  6501950--

 5.Climbs with turbo superchargers on to give 1000 bhp per engine up to critical altitude for 21,300 rpm on turbo. Climbs continued with turbos operating at 21,300 rpm.

 
Altitude
Ft.
True
Speed
MPH
R.P.M.Average B.H.P.
per
Engine
Rate of
Climb
Ft/Min.
Time of
Climb
Min.
 
         01272300100014300   
  5,0001372300100014103.5
10,0001472300100013507.1
15,00015923001000123011.0  
20,00017223001000105015.4  
25,00018423001000  85020.6  
28,00019423001000  72024.4  
30,0001992300  970  61027.4  
35,0002082300  810  23040.1  
36,0002112300  770  10050.0  

For the full report see HERE

Copy from microfilm


WAR DEPARTMENT
AIR CORPS, MATERIEL DIVISION
September 7, 1942

MEMORANDUM REPORT ON
Boeing B-17F airplane, AC No. 41-24340

Subject:Acceptance Performance Tests
Section:Flight
Serial No.:FS-M-19-1470-A

A.Purpose
 
 1.To report on acceptance performance tests conducted at the manufacturer's plant on the B-17F airplane, AC No. 41-24340. Airplane equipped with four (4) Wright R-1820-65 engines with torque meters; exhaust driven turbo superchargers; three-bladed constant speed, full feathering propellers, blade design No. 6477A-0. blade angel range 20° - 88° at 42 inch radius. Landing gear retracted, wing flaps neutral, intercooler shutters wide open unless otherwise specified. Tests were conducted under two load conditions: a gross weight of approximately 41,000 pounds (c.g. location 23.33 percent m.a.c., wheels up) and a gross weight of approximately 56,000 pounds (c.g. location 23.68 percent m.a.c., wheels up) De-icer equipment in place, marker beacon, radio compass, liaison and command set antenna in place. Armament in stowed position: two .50 caliber machine guns, B.A.C. type tail installation; two .50 caliber machine guns, Turret, lower ball, model BT (Briggs Manufacturing Company); two .50 caliber machine guns, Turret, Upper (Sperry Company); nose guns not in place but supporting brackets installed in windows and nose.

For the full report see HERE

Copy from microfilm


ARMY AIR FORCES
MATERIEL COMMAND
March 29, 1944

MEMORANDUM REPORT ON
B-17G Airplane, AAF No. 42-97656

Subject:Speed Tests with Various Finish Configurations
Section:Flight
Serial No.:Eng-47-1722-A

A.Purpose
 
 1. To report results of flight tests on B-17G airplane, AAF No. 42-97656, to determine the effects of various finishes on speed. The types of finishes tested were as follows:
 
  a.Unpainted
  b.Painted with standard camouflage paint.
  b.Camouflage paint, sanded, waxed and polished.

B.Factual Data
 
 4.The results of level flight power calibrations run at 5100 ft. and at 24,900 ft. under three finish configurations are given in the following table. Curves showing test points are given on page A-1.

Cowl flaps closed, intercooler flaps wide open, throttles wide open and turbo on to give desired manifold pressure.

 True Speed - MPH
      Altitude510024,900

      Condition(a)(b)(c)(a)(b)(c)

Military Power
1200 Torque H.P.
248.5250.5250.5297.5300300
 
Normal Power
1000 Torque H.P.
232.5234.5234.5277.5280280
 
800 Torque H.P.213   215215251.5255255
 
700 Torque H.P.200.5203203234  -238.5

Speed vs Power Calibration for Three Types of Finish

For the full report see HERE


ARMY AIR FORCES
AIR TECHNICAL SERVICE COMMAND
June 20, 1945

MEMORANDUM REPORT ON
B-17G Airplane, AAF No. 43-37746

Subject:Airplane and Engine Performance
Office:TSCEP5E-1B
Serial No.:TSCEP5E-1909

A.Purpose
 
 1.The purpose of this test was to obtain complete airplane and engine performance at all altitudes and gross weights plus investigating the stability characteristics.

B.Factual Data
 
 4.Level Flight Performance

The following level flight performance at the military and normal rated power settings was obtained with mixture auto rich, cowl flaps closed, intercoolers wide open, and gear and flaps up.

 Military Power
2500 RPM & 46" Hg. MP
Normal Rated Power
2300 RPM & 38" Hg. MP
 

Altitude
Feet
Gross Wt.
Lbs.
True Speed
MPH
BHP per
Engine
True Speed
MPH
BHP per
Engine

S.L.54,400 2241170206.5    935
  5,00054,0502411200223  960
15,00053,300273.5  12402521010
25,00052,30029612202771020
10,12060,0002551210235  990
10,33062,800--230  990
15,36062,30026512202431010

 5.Climbs:

One climb (Figures 10 and 11 of Appendix A) was run at a take-off gross weight of 57,650 pounds, cowl flaps wide open, calibrated airspeed 138 MPH and 2300 RPM and 38 inches of mercury. The results are as follows:

Altitude
Feet
BHP per
Engine
Rate of Climb
Ft. pre Min.
Time to Climb
Minutes
Gross Weight
Pounds

S.L.  985720057,600
10,000  99064014.556,950
15,000  99555022.556.570
25,000101527047.555,550

Level Flight Speed vs Altitude
Climb

For the full report see HERE


Supplemental

B-17B Summary of Characteristics and Performance Summary
Memorandum Report on Boeing B-17B Airplane, A.C. No. 38-211
Memorandum Report on Performance Comparison Between the B-17E and B-24D Airplanes
B-17F Flight Operation Data
B-17G Maximum Speed, Military Power, 1200 BHP per Engine.
B-17G - Rate of Climb
B-17G - Range vs Bomb Load
B-17G - Service Ceiling
B-17G Standard Aircraft Characteristics
Fortress B. Mk. II Data Sheet
Fortress IIA Data Sheet
Fortress B. Mk. III Data Sheet

WWII Aircraft Performance