Northrop Flying Wings

Half a century before the B-2 stealth bomber entered service, the aircraft manufacturer John K. Northrop was already developing piston-engined prototypes that looked remarkably similar. A "flying wing" is theoretically very efficient, offering superior range and payload. With the USAAF hungry for such aircraft during World War II, Northrop, a flying wing enthusiast, was contracted to design a 172ft-span bomber. Fifteen XB-35/YB-35 airframes were built, some of which were converted into new variants, and three of which became jet-engined YB-49/YRB-49As. But engineers struggled to overcome stability problems, and several pilots were lost in crashes. In the 1950s the challenging program was canceled in favor of more conventional jets. This book explores Northrop's flying wings, from the small N-1M and N-9M prototypes to the full-scale bombers, and analyses their rich legacy. The flying wing program fed into Northrop's XP-56 and MX-324 "Rocket Wing" prototype fighters and, decades later, the success of the B-2 would rely to a surprising extent on Northrop's pioneering prototypes. Throughout the last century, one-off experimental aircraft and cutting-edge military prototypes have pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Authoritative and accessible, X-Planes is the series that explains the technology behind the world's most important prototype and research aircraft, their often dangerous flight-test careers, and how their successes and failures influenced frontline aircraft development. Book jacket.