Boeing's gigantic prototype flying boat: The XPBB-1 Sea Ranger

Throughout the 1930s Boeing had built up quite a significant bit of experience designing and building flying boats. So, it was no surprise when in 1940 the U.S Navy asked for a long-range flying boat that Boeing put forward a design. The Navy was impressed with their design, and in June 1940 offered a contract for 57 examples of the Boeing Model 344. A new plant was built for the Navy on Lake Washington in Renton for manufacturing of the type. The Model 344 was a large twin engine flying boat having a wingspan that was 139ft and 8inches long and powered by the Wright Duplex Cyclone XR-3350-8 engines. However, events such as those at Midway, had convinced the U.S military to change tactics to favour land-based aircraft and hence the need for a long-range flying boat was no longer need and the program was cancelled before the prototype was flown. Eventually the sole prototype flew for the first time on the 9th of July 1942, and while it showed potential it would remain as the sole Boeing Sea Ranger to be built. Yet it would be the largest twin engine aircraft to be built during the Second World War.

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Sources:
All-Aero: http://all-aero.com/index.php/contact...
Aviastar: http://www.aviastar.org/air/usa/boein...
Boeing: https://www.boeing.com/history/produc...
Boeing Sea Ranger Pilot Notes: https://digitalcollections.museumoffl...
Dave's Warbirds: https://www.daveswarbirds.com/usplane...
Destinations Unknown: https://www.destinationsjourney.com/h...
Wikipedia ****: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_...


** I don't like to use Wikipedia but sometimes with these rare aircraft there is not many sources. However, I always check the references to ensure that the article is creditable.
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