Naval Aircraft Factory
Naval Aircraft Factory PBN-1 Nomad
The Naval Aircraft Factory PBN‑1 Nomad was a prototype patrol bomber built by the United States Navy’s own production facility. Conceived in 1941 as a replacement for the aging PBY Catalina, the Nomad incorporated lessons learned from the PBY and the experimental PBY‑5A amphibian. Only two airframes were completed before the program was cancelled in 1943 in favor of larger, longer‑range designs such as the PB4Y and the P2V.
The Nomad featured a mid‑wing, twin‑engine layout powered by two 1,600‑hp Wright R‑2600 radials, a fully retractable landing gear for land operations, and a hull‑shaped fuselage that allowed water landings. Its high‑aspect‑ratio wing gave a 19‑percent lift‑to‑drag improvement over the Catalina, while the streamlined nose reduced drag by another 7 percent. The aircraft carried a crew of five, could transport up to 2,000 lb of depth charges, torpedoes or photographic equipment, and was equipped with early radar and a .30‑caliber defensive gun.
Although never entering service, the PBN‑1 demonstrated that a navy could design and build a modern patrol aircraft without private‑industry involvement. The Nomad’s aerodynamic refinements and mixed‑role capability informed later U.S. maritime patrol designs, marking a brief but influential step in the evolution of naval aviation.
The Nomad featured a mid‑wing, twin‑engine layout powered by two 1,600‑hp Wright R‑2600 radials, a fully retractable landing gear for land operations, and a hull‑shaped fuselage that allowed water landings. Its high‑aspect‑ratio wing gave a 19‑percent lift‑to‑drag improvement over the Catalina, while the streamlined nose reduced drag by another 7 percent. The aircraft carried a crew of five, could transport up to 2,000 lb of depth charges, torpedoes or photographic equipment, and was equipped with early radar and a .30‑caliber defensive gun.
Although never entering service, the PBN‑1 demonstrated that a navy could design and build a modern patrol aircraft without private‑industry involvement. The Nomad’s aerodynamic refinements and mixed‑role capability informed later U.S. maritime patrol designs, marking a brief but influential step in the evolution of naval aviation.
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Classification
Production & History
- Units Produced
- 155
Design & Classification
- Manufacturer
- Naval Aircraft Factory
- Nickname
- Nomad, Catalina
- Military Designation
- PBN-1
- Wikidata ID
- Q18019709