#2780

Keystone B-3

first flight unknown· bomber

4 photos from Wikimedia Commons · credits & licences

1. Keystone B-3A (SN 30-281): USAF· Public domain
2. Keystone B-3A formation 060421-F-1234P-007: USAF· Public domain
3. Keystone B-3A front SN 30-281 060421-F-1234P-006: USAF· Public domain
4. Keystone B-3A right side SN 30-281 060421-F-1234P-005: USAF· Public domain

what is it?

The Keystone B-3A was a bomber aircraft developed for the United States Army Air Corps by Keystone Aircraft in the late 1920s.

How to recognise it: 2 piston engines with propellers · 22.8 m wingspan

base stats

speed 183 km/htop speed
range 1,400 kmwithout refuelling
size 5,875 kgmax take-off weight
built 63made in total

Bars compare against all aircraft: 3,500 km/h, 20,000 km, 850 seats; size and number built on a log scale up to 640 t (An-225) and 45,000 built (Cessna 172).

fun facts

Wingspan of 22.8 m: about 5 cars parked nose to tail.
Range of 1,400 km: 8× Amsterdam to Brussels.

piston: A car-like piston engine turning a propeller: simple and cheap, the classic small plane.

spec sheet

first flight: —
retired: 1940
status: retired
number built: 63
role: bomber
makers: Keystone Aircraft
engines: 2× Pratt & Whitney R-1690-3
crew: 5
length: 14.9 m
wingspan: 22.8 m
height: 4.8 m
max take-off weight: 5,875 kg
top speed: 183 km/h
cruise speed: 158 km/h
range: 1,400 km
ceiling: 3,870 m

Specs are for the version in the Wikipedia article's specification section. Blank means the sources don't say.

Sources: Wikidata Q3049717, Wikipedia: Keystone B-3 (CC BY-SA 4.0).Updated 2026-10-24.