Description

Half a century before the 'flying wing' B-2 stealth bomber entered service, John K. 'Jack' Northrop was already developing prototypes of a large 'flying wing' strategic bomber, which would have been the most radical bombers of their age.

World War II brought a need for very long-range bombers and Northrop received a contract for a 172-ft span bomber, the B-35. Several of these were built, gradually evolving into the definitive XB-35 configuration. Testing revealed that the aircraft was invisible to radar, but engineers struggled to overcome the design challenges and several pilots were lost in crashes. While the program was cancelled in the 1950s, the concept extended into other highly innovative areas, such as the XP-56 and MX-324 Rocket Wing prototype fighters. But the greatest legacy was the first operational flying wing – the Northrop Grumman B-2 stealth bomber, which used much of the hard-won experience from the pioneering programs of half a century before.

Table of Contents

Introduction /Flying Wing Evolution /The XB-35 /The YB-49 /|Disaster and Diminuendo /Flying Wing Legacy Bibliography /Index

Product details

Published Feb 21 2019
Format Ebook (Epub)
Edition 1st
Extent 80
ISBN 9781472825087
Imprint Osprey Publishing
Series X-Planes
Short code XPL 10
Publisher Bloomsbury Publishing

About the contributors

Author

Peter E. Davies

Peter E. Davies has specialized in the aircraft of…

Illustrator

Adam Tooby

Adam Tooby is an internationally renowned digital…

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