Differences

This shows you the differences between two versions of the page.

--- aircraft:wb3_phoenix [2023/02/12 18:48] – created admin
+++ aircraft:wb3_phoenix [2025/10/04 19:34] (current) – admin
@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+====== WB.3 Phoenix ======
 <WRAP infobox right 330px>
 ^  WB.3 Phoenix  ^^
-|  {{wiki:wb3-phoenix.jpg?300}}\\  WB.3 Phoenix, 1970  ||
+|  {{aircraft:wb3-phoenix.jpg?300}}\\  WB.3N Phoenix, 1970  ||
 | **Role** | Supersonic bomber |
-| **National origin** | Wingarde |
+| **National origin** | [[:start|Wingarde]] |
-| **Manufacturer** | Wingarde Aerospace |
+| **Manufacturer** | [[:companies:wingarde_aerospace|Wingarde Aerospace]] |
 | **First flight** | 27 July 1965 |
-| **Introduction** | 2 December 1966 |
+| **Introduction** | 11 October 1966 |
 | **Retired** | 1989 |
-| **Primary users** | [[:federal_air_force|Wingarde Federal Air Force]] |
+| **Primary user** | [[:orgs:federal_air_force|Wingarde Federal Air Force]] |
 | **Produced** | 1966–1981 |
-| **Major variants** | • Supersonic (nuclear) strike \\ • Maritime strike \\ • Electronic warfare |
+| **Major variants** | • Supersonic strike \\ • Maritime strike \\ • Electronic warfare |
 </WRAP>
-**TBD**
+The **WB.3 Phoenix** ([[wp>German_language|German]]: //Phönix//) was a supersonic bomber designed to penetrate deep into enemy territory and deliver precision strikes, using its speed to outrun any possible retaliation. The aircraft's profile also made it a suitable candidate for anti-shipping missions, albeit exclusively from land bases.
+A specialized platform, by the latter half of the 1980s, its role became increasingly supplanted by more versatile, modern air assets, such as the [[wf17_falchion|WF.17 Falchion]]. The idea of negating enemy defenses with sheer speed was revisited starting 2005, with the project that eventually gave birth to the [[wb7_archangel|WB.7 Archangel]].
 ===== Variants =====
-FIXME
-  ***Z.1** (1940)**:** The prototype version.
-  ***Z.2** (1941)**:** The first production variant.
-  ***Z.3** (1942)**:**
-  ***Z.4** (1943)**:**
-  ***Z.5** (1943)**:** 1,600 hp
-  ***Z.6** (1944)**:** 1,600 hp
-  ***Z.7** (1944)**:** 1,800 hp + WEP
-  ***Z.8** (1945)**:** 2,000 hp + WEP
-  ***Z.9** (1946)**:**
-===== Specifications (WB.3X Phoenix) =====
+  ***WB.3** (1966)**:** Original production version. Strategic/tactical bomber.
-FIXME
+  ***WB.3B** (1979)**:** Improved original variant, with upgraded avionics and greater ordnance compatibility.
-<WRAP right 320px>
+  ***WB.3N** (1967)**:** Naval strike variant, able to carry up to 4 large anti-ship missiles.
+  ***WB.3N2** (1979)**:** Improved naval striker.
+  ***WB.3E** (1975)**:** Initial electronic warfare platform.
+  ***WB.3E2** (1981)**:** Upgraded EW suite and aerodynamic profile.
-{{wiki:zaeber-z-planx.png?320}}
+===== Specifications (WB.3B Phoenix) =====
-</WRAP>
 ==== General characteristics ====
-  ***Crew:** 1 pilot
+  ***Crew:** 2 (1 pilot, 1 [[wp>Weapon_systems_officer|weapons officer]])
-  ***Length:** X m
+  ***Length:** 28 m (92 ft)
-  ***[[wp>Wingspan|Wingspan]]:** X m
+  ***[[wp>Wingspan|Wingspan]]:** 12 m (39 ft)
-  ***Height:** X m
+  ***Height:** 7.51 m (25 ft)
-  ***[[wp>Manufacturer%27s_empty_weight|Empty weight]]:** X kg
+  ***[[wp>Manufacturer%27s_empty_weight|Empty weight]]:** 25,221 kg (55,603 lb)
-  ***[[wp>Maximum_takeoff_weight|Max. takeoff weight]]:** X kg
+  ***[[wp>Maximum_takeoff_weight|Max. takeoff weight]]:** 37,109 kg (81,811 lb)
-  ***[[wp>Aircraft_engine|Powerplant]]:** 1 × XXXX inverted liquid-cooled V12 engine, 1,193 kW (1,600 hp)
+  ***[[wp>Aircraft_engine|Powerplant]]:** 2 × XXXX afterburning turbojet engines, 111 kN (25,000 lbf), 142 kN (32,000 lbf) with afterburner
+<WRAP right 500px>{{aircraft:wb3-phoenix-plan.jpg?500}}</WRAP>
 ==== Performance ====
-  ***[[wp>V_speeds#Regulatory_V-speeds|Maximum speed]]:** X km/h at altitude
+  ***[[wp>V_speeds#Regulatory_V-speeds|Maximum speed]]:** Mach 2.2 (2,626 km/h, 1,632 mph) at altitude, Mach 1 (1,194 km/h, 742 mph) at sea level
-  ***[[wp>Range_(aeronautics)|Range]]:** X km
+  ***[[wp>Range_(aeronautics)|Range]]:** 1,200 km (standard combat, 746 mi, 648 nmi), 4,400 km (maximum, 2,734 mi, 2,376 nmi)
-  ***[[wp>Ceiling_(aeronautics)|Service ceiling]]:** X m
+  ***[[wp>Ceiling_(aeronautics)|Service ceiling]]:** 12,000 m (40,000 ft)
 ==== Armament ====
+Combined combat load of 5,000 kg (11,000 lb), 3,000 kg (6,600 lb) in weapons bay, 2,000 kg (4,400 lb) on wing hardpoints.
-  ***Guns:**
+  ***Bombs:**
-    *2 × 12.7mm (.50 in) XXXX machine guns, mounted in the nose
+    *12 × 250 kg bombs in weapons bay
-    *4 × 20mm Zaeber ZK3 cannons, mounted in the wings
+    *6 × 500 kg bombs in weapons bay
+    *2 × 250kt nuclear bombs in weapons bay (planned, cancelled)
-  ***Rockets:** 8 × 127mm high velocity aircraft rockets
+    *2 × 500-litre drop tanks on inner wing hardpoints
-  ***Bombs:** 2 × 250 kg bombs or 2 × 500 kg bombs or 2 × 250-litre drop tank
+  ***Missiles:**
+    *4 × large anti-ship (N/N2) OR land attack missiles (2 in weapons bay, 2 on inner wings)