Budd RB-1 Conestoga
The Budd RB-1 Conestoga was a stainless steel cargo aircraft designed during World War Two. A predicted shortage of aluminium led to the US Army exploring other materials with which to construct aircraft. The Budd RB-1 Conestoga met this requirement, but was underpowered and only had a range of 1,050 km with maximum payload.
When the shortage of aluminium did not eventuate, the Army cancelled its order for the Conestoga, but the Navy ordered 17, although they were never deployed to a combat zone. With so few aircraft of the type, the Navy disposed of them in 1945.
A total of 20 Conestogas were built, three prototypes and 17 production models.
Prototypes and Military Aircraft
Budd RB-1 Conestoga NX41810 Prototype 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga NX41810 Prototype 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga NC45354 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga NC45354 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga
Civil Aircraft
Budd RB-1 Conestoga of Skyway Freight / The Flying Tiger Line 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga of Skyway Freight / The Flying Tiger Line
Crashes
Budd RB-1 Conestoga NX37097 crash 12 April 1944 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga NC45353 crash 7 November 1945 
Budd RB-1 Conestoga NC45347 crash 1 January 1946
