Super Bomber - The Only One Ever Built

The early 1930s witnessed an unprecedented surge in aviation innovation. In this era of skyward dreams, the Boeing XB-15 bomber soared into existence. Conceived by the United States Army Air Corps, this giant became a symbol of possibility in both military and commercial aviation.
The XB-15 was Boeing's answer to a challenge: create a long-range bomber like no other. With its breathtaking wingspan, powerful array of engines, and revolutionary focus on crew comfort, this aircraft was sculpted for the heavens.
Despite its monumental role in the evolution of 'Super Bombers,' the XB-15's tale often remains overshadowed, its contributions to aviation history underappreciated. But, more than just a feat of engineering, the XB-15 was a harbinger of change. Its influence was profound, echoing through World War 2 and into the development of commercial aviation. The design principles and innovations introduced by this aircraft laid the groundwork for the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress and reshaped the future of air travel.
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Join Dark Skies as we explore the world of aviation with cinematic short documentaries featuring the biggest and fastest airplanes ever built, top-secret military projects, and classified missions with hidden untold true stories. Including US, German, and Soviet warplanes, along with aircraft developments that took place during World War I, World War 2, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Gulf War, and special operations mission in between.
As images and footage of actual events are not always available, Dark Skies sometimes utilizes similar historical images and footage for dramatic effect and soundtracks for emotional impact. We do our best to keep it as visually accurate as possible.
All content on Dark Skies is researched, produced, and presented in historical context for educational purposes. We are history enthusiasts and are not always experts in some areas, so please don't hesitate to reach out to us with corrections, additional information, or new ideas.

[@trolleyfan]

The number of aircraft designs where the phrase "underpowered engines" killed their chances to be adopted is awesome.

[@barrycooper9451]

Therefore Designing aircraft is easier than designing engines!

[@MorangRus]

"Underpowered engines" is just an euphemism used by aircraft designers in place of "overweight airframe".

[@obi-ron]

At the time of these bombers it was a case of desire outstripping technology. Engine development was fraught with problems getting power from units without ripping the engines to pieces or damping vibration enough to keep them on the airframe during flight. Everything was calculated using slide rules, pencils and paper and what they managed to produce was a heck of a lot harder to do than what's possible now.

[@emanemanrus5835]

Starting from the wings of wood and canvas, operated by human power, designed by Leonardo Da Vinci.

[@davidelliott5843]

Airframe designers based their work on projected engine power. Often that never materialised or resulted in self combusting engines (B29).

[@mikep490]

This was such an advanced plane that it's hard to believe it began in 1934. 110V internal power, 2 electric generators onboard, autopilot, deicing, and crawl tunnels in the wings. I'd forgotten it was designed to use four 2600 HP engines, but had to make do with 850 HP. Apparently it also lifted a 31,205 lb payload to 8200 feet in 1939. I passed by its final resting place many times.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Where is her grave?

[@mikep490]

@@jed-henrywitkowski6470 When the AF decided to scrap the plane they stripped it and shoved the airframe to the end of the runway at Albrook Field Panama. It slowly sunk into the swampy ground and years later slum housing was built on poles over that location.

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Damn. What a sad ending. Being sent to Evergreen in Tucson (I think the name has changed in the past few years) to be scrapped, would have been a better demise. @@mikep490

[@fourfortyroadrunner6701]

The 110 internal power you speak of IS NOT the same as land based line power. Aircraft/ WWII 115V AC was 400 cycles, generated by such things as motor generators or dynomotors--an electric motor and generator wound on the same armature. Basic power in most aircraft is 24V. The 400Hz AC uses much lighter transformers and components, and can NOT be operated on 60hz line power. I am somewhat familiar with some of the WWII radio/ other electrical equipment, first licensed as a radio amateur in 1965. I still have just a few pieces of WWII aircraft equipment.

[@mikep490]

@@fourfortyroadrunner6701 That is interesting, thnx. The document I read said 110V internal power, but I assume the twin putt putt engines were like in other bombers. The B-29 used them to crank up engine #3... and they were left running during take off and landings in case of engine fail.

[@jacksavage7808]

Those great days when Boeing aircraft that didn't fall apart in the air.

[@Lightning613]

ya mean the: before DEI days????

[@williamjohnson7963]

​@@Lightning613Just what I was going to say. You beat me to it. 👍

[@scottwilliams5642]

sAME HERE

[@DarksideDave42]

DEI has nothing to do with it .... The problem is that the bean counters took over and prioritized short term profits over long term safety

[@Mr.Benson]

A beautiful design that captures the "Streamline Moderne" style of the 1930s.

[@davef.2329]

Definitely should have spared that one for the USAFM at Wright-Pat.

[@aj-2savage896]

I have the impression that they are keeping an eye on the site where it was buried.

[@patriot9455]

The foundations of aviation are always moving forward. it is a pity the one model of it could not be museumed

[@davidhoffman8122]

I was in the USAF for 20 years and never heard of the XC-105. I worked C-5s for 13 years and in many ways this was the C-5 of the 30's.

[@haroldwilkes598]

True. I was on the first official passenger flight of the C5a from Pope AFB to Marietta, GA. Considering I had only flown on C-130s previously, it was awesome.

[@OrginalDravas]

i see alot of the b-17 and b-29 in this plane

[@Cybersawz]

Back when Boeing was great! Today, destroyed by corporate greed.

[@lucasokeefe7935]

It has been Boeing in name only since the merger with McDonnell Douglas

[@martinbrode7131]

Greed is timeles.

[@ronaldjohnson1474]

Not just greed, but idiotic employee choices.

[@otterspocket2826]

It went downhill after McDonnell Douglas bought them out using Boeing's money.

[@DarksideDave42]

​ True .... John Oliver did a lengthy analysis of the problem a few weeks ago .... The wrong camel ended up on top ....

[@Musique61414]

Fantastic vid! Thanks

[@lancerevell5979]

With the later R2800 engines, and power-operated turrets, it would have been a superb bomber.

[@JohnSmith-yv6eq]

The Wright R-3350 Duplex-Cyclone was one of the most powerful radial aircraft engines produced by the United States. Based on the earlier Wright Cyclone engines, the R-3350 first ran in May 1937, and its first major military use was to power the Boeing B-29 So the XB would have been eclipsed anyway....

[@tjh44961]

I'm not so sure. Look at the thickness of the wing at the root. I think that due to the drag, that beast was going to be a 250 mph aircraft, regardless of the amount of power you put into it. The R2800 was a superb engine, there is no doubt. But along with the larger displacement came higher weight -- 2358 lbs. The R1830 weighed 1467 lbs. The extra 4000 lbs. wouldn't have helped its performance, speed-wise, and probably would have had a significant negative effect on its range, due to the additional fuel required by the much larger engines.

[@michaelgautreaux3168]

GR8 vid. A good pairing w/ the YB-19 from a couple of years ago. 👍👍

[@Bobtheguilder]

B17 could carry 2000kg if flying over 800 miles. Lancaster carried 6400kg. Need 3 B17s for same impact. Modified Lanc carried 10000kg (22,000lb) Grand Slam earthquake bomb

[@rbhkg3]

Max takeoff weight of both aircraft is very similar. I don't think you are comparing apples to apples. If you drain most of the fuel and remove the guns/armor a b17 has a huge payload as well. The Lancaster was not outfitted like a b17.

[@osogrande2]

But without the B17s the British would be speaking German.

[@RinksRides]

Need 3x B17, recieved 300x. So kinda equals out m8.

[@tomcatfoolery]

.303 vs. 50? 6 mgs vs 11 mgs?

[@VirginiaBardone]

There is reason Lancaster flew at night in the dark while B17s & B24s flew during the day. Guts and .50 cal. Guns.

[@christophersavva9733]

Keep these comimg please, rrally enjoy these x

[@whisthpo]

Excellent report on a little known Giant of Aviation History which I wasn't aware of. You continue to inform & educate!

[@xanderunderwoods3363]

What an absolutely beautiful plane, I can't believe I've never heard of it before, this is awesome!

[@n4gix]

It's a terrible shame that they destroyed a beautiful airplane, especially since it was a one-of-a-kind prototype. Too many of these were scrapped and not preserved in a museum!

[@tomcatfoolery]

I can also see the precursor of the B-29. A beautiful aircraft.

[@johnking6252]

It always makes me think of Bugs Bunny and the gremlin cartoon, don't know why 👍

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

3:37 Yeah, but no. The XB-15 was not pressurized. There was a design study for a follow up model 316 that was going investigate pressurization and tricycle landing gear. Something you failed to add why the XB-15 was able to last so long in its prototype designation and later cargo modification was the model 314 flying boat that used the same wing design and engines as the XB-15 so some form of repalcement parts was available to keep it flying.

[@kyle381000]

I would think that a pressurized bomber would suddenly become unpressurized with a single bullet hole in the fuselage.

[@davidelliott5843]

Crew were provided with lino tiles to put over the bullet holes.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

Boeing 314 flying Boat used the XB15 wing but upgraded to the Wright R2600 engines, double the power !!!

[@agrippa1234]

Nice juxtaposition of the glimpse into the future of the B-15 and that little end of an era P-26 Peashooter......

[@orcstr8d]

At 5:50 you probably want to edit, the XB-15 wingspan was nearly one and a half times that of the B-17.

[@bikes02]

@orcstr8d The Douglas XB-19 was larger with a wingspan of 212 feet

[@orcstr8d]

@@bikes02 that would be double the span of the B-17!

[@bikes02]

@@orcstr8d A prototype was built and flown search youtube Rex's Hanger The Bomber That Made The B-17 Look Small | Douglas XB-19

[@tonbopro]

Cutting Edge！

[@frankbodenschatz173]

Very nicey presented.

[@knowingyourmind]

It always bothers me when any type of aircraft ceases from existence. I think the foresight to save examples of them for posterity (museums) would continue to reap dividends, long after their service lives end. I grew up down the street from Wright-Pat. I remember when they had to chop up a B-36 there. Even though I was very young, watching that plane be guillotened was very bothersome. We have the Spruce Goose up here in Oregon, now (McMinnville) and just driving by the hangar and glancing inside the glass wall is enough to cause one to marvel. That same thing happens with every step through the National Air Force Museum.

[@Vile-Flesh]

Damn. That would be a horrible sight. I've always loved huge planes. In 1996 we went on a family vacation and the main destination was the Air Force Museum at Wright Patterson all because years before that I watched an episode of Wings on Discovery (loved that calming show) that featured the XB-70 Valkyrie and it said that the single surviving prototype was kept there. So the years went by, not many, and parents said out of the blue one summer we were driving to Ohio in a month and I knew immediately why and it was a nice surprise and a very big deal for me. We packed the family minivan, 1990 Plymouth Grand Voyager, and my parents, brother, and I drove (brother and I were too young to drive) from Louisiana to Ohio and that museum is AMAZING and one day is not enough to soak up everything. One of the best parts is how the restaurant for the museum is XB-70 Valkyrie themed with the glass etchings of that gorgeous plane. Whenever I see Wright Patterson AFB mentioned I immediately think of that really nice family trip and how fortunate we were to have loving parents like that.

[@gerardhogan3]

What a hugely interesting story. Thank you.

[@mikekmit6045]

As much as I love your videos, if I had had a drink every time you said "it's colossal wing span", I be on the floor.

[@deltonlomatai2309]

One of the original OG BFUFs

[@vortexgen1]

That is so very sad that this 1 of a kind aircraft has been gone for so very long, it just breaks my heart. I wish that these people wouldn't scrape airplane history so fast. I'm still glad that the YF-23s are still around to look at. This shows us where we started, where we came from, and where we are going.

[@vaughnmojado8637]

It sure was a big boy. It was cool to see.

[@unpaintedleadsyndrome]

How that same company now sucks so hard is beyond belief...

[@johnnyh3653]

It wasn't full of unions back then and didn't have as many pressures by investors.

[@williamjohnson7963]

​@@johnnyh3653 Didn't have to deal with DEI stupidity either.

[@johnnyh3653]

@@williamjohnson7963My apologies, I forgot about that madness. Good catch!

[@williamjohnson7963]

@@johnnyh3653 No apologies necessary. I just wish more people knew about it.

[@johnedwards3621]

Gerhard Neuman -- who ran GE's Jet engine factory had a rule --- No management without three years of dirty fingernails. It worked for him. Boeing forgot and let someone slither in.

[@RemusKingOfRome]

You always need a prototype to create an excellent aircraft, the XB15 was this prototype.

[@davefellhoelter3299]

15 TONS!

[@orcstr8d]

And what do you get? 🎶 Tennessee Ernie Ford was a bombardier in WWII on a B29.

[@user-ni2zo5zo3c]

This aircraft had more to it than I initially had thought. Thanks. How had it compared with the Douglas XB-19 Super Bomber?

[@agrippa1234]

Haven't seen any discussions of the progression from gun blisters to turrets...........

[@elennapointer701]

Looks a bit like an inspiration for Consolidated's B-32 Dominator.

[@fload46d]

You have the best documentaries.

[@TJ-USMC]

Beautiful Airplane !!!

[@htos1av]

While she didn't make it to the Smithsonian, :( her DNA lives on in the B-52 Stratofortress, which is STILL around working daily!

[@longrider42]

It's always about the Engines, it seems. Looks like it would have been a great bomber. It's one of those planes that, what would have been.

[@user-og1ux8nr3i]

The B29 had a massive engine problem.

[@oldschoolmotorsickle]

The most behemoth-y colossal-y colossal behemoth that ever behemothed its way through the sky.

[@LordDustinDeWynd]

03:00 Ummm... machine-guns, as a rule, are NOT hand-held.

[@MorangRus]

Hand-operated then. It means that the bomber didn't have hydraulically or electrically powered turrets, all the defensive mounts were muscle-powered despite having streamlined canopies.

[@Zach-ku6eu]

@03:34 That sure is alotta dames and gams!

[@issigonis975]

Good crop there.

[@the-trustees]

The background music reminds me of the "Blue Man Group," but not any specific song I recognize. Who is it? Thanks!

[@JSFGuy]

It showed up this time.

[@auro1986]

you can make seats inside wings that big

[@benjaminrush4443]

One of a kind. Too bad they didn't keep it as a museum piece. Thanks.

[@billwendell6886]

B15 and B19 flew expedited cargo throughout the war coast to coast. Completely practical airplanes. Boeing's genius. Get the gov't to pay for a bomber protoype, then build the airliner version R&D paid for. Even the 747 was a failure for what became the C5. It was never intended to win.....

[@deltavee2]

A class act not so long after the Wright Brothers did the first powered flight. Back when Boeing was a real aircraft company run by engineers. Biting tongue here....

[@dadadadankable]

Well just like the Sherman tank, this aircraft is proof that in the sky like on the ground, it’s not the best that wins. It’s the quantity produced and mechanic fleet a side can maintain.

[@richardletaw4068]

So what was its range? I never heard it mentioned. Such a sad and ignominious end.

[@proteusnz99]

XB-15, nice airframe, unfortunately about five-seven years ahead of the engine power it needed, likewise the Douglas XB-19, powered aviation’s pace has mostly been set by reliable engine power. Also often overlooked in how the manufacturers learnt how to built large aircraft is the ruthless Juan Trippe, head of Pan Am. His demands for large long range flying boats give rise to both the Boeing Clippers (which used the XB-15 wings/engines) and the four engined Martin boats. Of course, the market was too small to cover the development costs, never mind make a profit. The best spin-off from the XB-15 was the more realistic B-17.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

proteusnz WRONG !!!! The Boeing 314 Pan Am clipper used the wing from the XB15 BUT..... they upgraded to the Wright R2600 doubling the HP !!!

[@proteusnz99]

@@wilburfinnigan2142 Thank you, my mistake, I stand corrected.

[@jamesmusisca7547]

if ya can't get it there you can't fight with it

[@elijahhodges4405]

I don't think people these days can understand what the B-17 flying fortress was. It was awesome for the period it was hot. They wrote songs about it!

[@nigelconnor6960]

Yup, the Antonov AN225 of it's time.

[@isellcatlitter]

They did some crazy stuff in the 1930's... Fast Forward to 2024.... Where is my Flying Car????

[@lhcboy]

Does no one else see the wing pitch similarity to the B-52. I went thru the comments thinking I would see "B-52" somewhere and did not. May have missed it but that feature stuck out to me and thought many would have seen it. See 10:51 and compare to a similar angled pic of the 52. Also how thick the wings are. Boeing learned a lot from this prototype.

[@christopherrobinson7541]

The pitch down is because the angle of incidence of the wing, relative to the aircraft waterline is slightly too great.

[@markbrown3252]

How come, they didn’t pressurize the B-17

[@jamesburns2232]

The waist gunners had open holes in the fuselage - that would not be possible to pressurize. 🧐

[@ahmadfirdaus4183]

I wonder this aircraft competes with the similarly sized bomber prototype from Douglas, the XB-19

[@jimw1615]

The only advanced counterpart of the XB-15 would have been the B-29, however. The B-17 was just an unpressurized, smaller-scale version of the XB-15 using the same engines.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

jimw B17 used the Wright R1820 XB15 used the PW R1830's !!!! similiar not the same and the Wright R 1820 was supercharged and TURBOcharged, two stage supercharged at 1200 HP !!!! the B24 used the PW R1830's that were also supercharged and TURBO charged, two stage and also 1200 HP !!!

[@jaman878]

It looks like the B-19 to me.

[@edl617]

B-24 8,000 pounds of bombs at 500 miles. Maximum speed: 297 mph (478 km/h, 258 kn) at 25,000 ft (7,600 m) Cruise speed: 215 mph (346 km/h, 187 kn) Stall speed: 95 mph (153 km/h, 83 kn) Range: 1,540 mi (2,480 km, 1,340 nmi) at 237 mph (206 kn; 381 km/h) and 25,000 ft (7,600 m) with normal fuel and maximum internal bomb load.

[@PurpleRhymesWithOrange]

@ 3:33 that must have been a scandalis picture at the time!

[@Catlover777ful]

This is the plane from which the B-17 was designed. btw - the video would have been a LOT better to watch if the image hadn't been stretched out like that. Everything was badly distorted. Otherwise, good video.

[@michaellinner7772]

It doesn't matter how nice a plane is, if the engines are crap then the whole plane is crap. It becomes a slow moving, easy target in the sky.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

I often wonder WHY if the 4 PW R1830's were not enough power why not ad 2 more engines to 6 ??? Or as in the Pan AM clipper flying boat use the Wright R2600's ?????

[@patrickradcliffe3837]

The Boeing model 314 "Pan Am Clippers" used the same wing and engines as the XB-15

[@RandyHill-bj9pc]

Mo engines mo problems.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

@@patrickradcliffe3837 WRONG !!! WRONG !!! ALL F'n WRONG !!!! The Pan Am Boeing 314 clipper used the wing of the XB15 but upgraded the engines to the Wright R2600 doubling the power of the PW R1830's !!!! Know what you are blabbering on about !!!

[@richardsawyer5428]

Without logistics, everything else is screwed. Becoming a cargo plane might not be glamorous but it's a vital and honourable role. The Yanks were and still are some of the best proponents of that.

[@scootergeorge7089]

I wonder how it would have done with Pratt and Whitney R-2800 or Wright R-3350 power.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

scootergeorge the Boeing Pan Am 314 flying boat used the XB15 wing but switched to the Wright R 2600

[@maxpayne2574]

Using click bait fake picture on the video is beneath you. The plane on the cover foto is not a 40.

[@kellyschram5486]

Counter rotating hmm

[@wuffos]

1:54 & 12:07 Pretty sure that's the XB-17, not the XB-15 ???

[@adamlee3772]

Some aircraft that. Pity it had the underpowered engines. Would have been an awesome addition to the allies arsenal in WW2.

[@robertmatch6550]

Fully pressurized? Sure you're reading the right brochure?

[@thurin84]

shame it was preserved for the usaf museum.

[@johnedwards3621]

ANT 25 first flight `1933 -- flew over north pole.

[@bikes02]

The Douglas XB-19 was larger with a wingspan of 212 feet

[@DavidFMayerPhD]

I do not know why such historical and unique aircraft are nearly always scrapped instead of being preserved for posterity.

[@flickingbollocks5542]

Looks better than the 17 imho

[@MrBillGarland]

😊👍🇬🇧

[@LordDustinDeWynd]

ALL AIRCRAFT CARRY THEIR OWN BULK. (...smh...)

[@warrenwalker2665]

Boeing isn't flying so high these days...lack of respect for paying attention to detail. Shame...

[@steveshoemaker6347]

🇺🇸

[@ai-d2121]

Boeing has come a long way since although it kinda lost its reputation by now as a trend setter of aviation. It now has more a reputation of a lost cause.

[@olivercooney6645]

Was it 100% genuinely scrapped

[@locke11216]

it was the biggest till convair built the B 36

[@tellyonthewall8751]

Having the XB-15, it still did cost more to develop the B-29, than the Manhattan project

[@christopherrobinson7541]

Incorrect.

[@tellyonthewall8751]

@@christopherrobinson7541 No ,. learn your/the history. It actually did cost 3 billion US dollars to develop he B 29 to front duty contra the 1.9 billion for the Manhattan project

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

@@tellyonthewall8751 BUT.... the manhattan project is still today costing billions of dollars a year for clean up at Hanford Washington, where they refined the uranium for the A Bombs !!

[@tellyonthewall8751]

@@wilburfinnigan2142 no ... manhattan project were closed loooong time ago

[@rameshnarain5029]

Indian HF24 Marut faced same problem in 60s

[@dejupp]

Die Musik ist lauter als der Sprecher. Es ist zum Heulen. Man bekommt überall Musik aufgedrängt. Geh mir aus den Augen

[@AndreasHannoverSL]

Why is there "music"?

[@Dr.Pepper001]

So we can dance.

[@user-McGiver]

looks like Dakota's Big Brother...

[@outlet6989]

I was expecting to see the name Howard Hughes in this video. Maybe he was responsible for placing those swimsuit-wearing beauties on the leading edge of the plane's wings at 3:29.

[@Hasley1]

As much as I enjoy this series, it amuses me how you manage to stretch 10 minutes of material into 20 by repeating the same info over and over. How many times in this episode was the fact the B-15 laid the ground work for the B-17 repeated? At least four or five times. Sometimes using the exact same dialog.

[@aussieblue7132]

Just another killing machine

[@orcstr8d]

Thank God only one was ever built then. Be grateful 10 passenger carrying flying boats used the same wing design a la the 314 Clipper.

[@grantm6514]

A good video spoiled by tacky and completely unnecessary 'music'. Why do so many youtube channels feel compelled to have music competing with the narration?

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

grantm Damn good question !!!! I would think what the narrator was saying was more important than some cheap @$$ music !!!

[@ricklee6686]

Too bad it wasn't saved. There is a wheel on display at Wright-Pat.

[@otterspocket2826]

I'm calling bs - if it was super they would've built some more.

[@patrickporter6536]

Not so super then. B17s carried gunners and a bomb or two.

[@davehodgson9260]

A bit less jingoistic language and more factual information would be better

[@hans-uelijohner8943]

Don'd you want to go metric?

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

NO !!! HELL NO !!!!!

[@hans-uelijohner8943]

@@wilburfinnigan2142 In metric, every thing is easier!!