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Like the B-18 the B-23 Dragon was based on a successful Douglas airliner design. This time it was the DC-3 that served as the basis for the new bomber. Designed in 1939 to replace the B-18 the Dragon was significantly faster than the earlier design and was slightly better armed as for the first time in an American bomber it was fitted with a tail gun. Despite the improvements the B-23 was still not up to the standards of bombers in use by the European powers. Only 38 Dragons were built and none of them ever entered combat. By mid-1942 all the Dragons had been relegated to training, or transport duties. However, after the war the relatively high speed of the B-23 made it very popular for conversion to executive transports and small airliners.
Douglas DC- Legacy: B-18, B-23, C-47, C-54D, DC-7, C-117D, VC-118, C-9B/DC-9
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| Wingspan |
92 ft |
| Length |
58 ft 4 in |
| Height |
18 ft 6 in |
| Weight |
30,500 lbs (loaded) |
| Maximum Speed |
282 mph |
| Service Ceiling |
31,000 ft |
| Range |
2,750 miles |
| Engines |
2 Wright R-2600-3 radials, 1,600 horsepower each |
| Crew |
5 |
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