Northrop N-50 Flying Wing

USAF designation: YB-49

Powerplant: 8 x 1,814 kg Alison J35-A-15 turbojets

Significant date:

Hampered by mechanical failings, the N-9 flight test program prevented the acquisition of reliable flight data through 21 September 1943, when the N-9MB, last of the N-9s, initially flew. Engines excepted, the N-9MB included all latest design features of the XB-35, but the model's flight testing did not help the XB-35's cause. By the end of November, test results indicated that the XB-35's range would most likely be 1,600 miles shorter than anticipated and that the bomber's highest speed would be at least 24 miles per hour below previous estimates. Such disappointing prognostics were not overlooked. General Arnolde himself began to question the merits of the extensive B-35 production plans.

By early 1944, the B-35 program was seriously behind schedule. Test results with the N-9M aircraft had indicated that the range of the XB-35 would most likely be 1600 miles shorter than anticipated. In addition, the maximum speed was estimated to be 24 mph slower than anticipated. Consequently, General Arnold began to question the wisdom of any extensive B-35 production program. In the meantime, the Martin company was experiencing severe shortages of trained engineers (many had been drafted) who could work on the B-35 project and had encountered delays in setting up the necessary tooling. These problems had forced Martin to push back the delivery date of the first B-35 to 1947. As a result, the USAAF concluded that it was unlikely that the B-35 would be ready in time to contribute to the war effort, and cancelled the Martin B-35 production contract on May 24, 1944.

However, this did not spell the death of the B-35 project, since the Air Technical Service Command felt that the XB-35 flying wing project was worthwhile for test purposes even if it never achieved operational status. In December of 1944, the USAAF decided that Northrop should go ahead and build the XB-35 and YB-35 aircraft as test vehicles. Yet, because the propeller-driven B-35 was already deemed obsolete, orders were issued as early as June 1, 1945 to have two of the YB-35 airframes fitted with Allison J35-A-5 jet engines. By the end of 1948, the USAF therefore authorized modification of two YB-35s (42-102367,102368) by installing eight jet engines. These two aircraft were redesignated YB-49.

The YB-49 and YRB-49A programs continued into the late 1940s and early 1950s, but neither of these jet powered flying wing programs was successful. The last flight of the flying Wing took place on April 26th, 1951. Eighteen months later, Jack Northrop resigned from Northrop Aircraft, and left the aviation industry. The last aircraft (YRB-49A) was scrapped in November 1953.

Worthy of notice is the fact that Muroc Army Air Field was renamed Edwards Air Force Base after YB-49 copilot Glenn Edwards who was killed in a crash on 5 June 1948 which destroyed the second YB-49.

Population:

Specs:
Length : 16.20m Wing Span : 52.40m Hight : 4.62m Wing Area : 371.6 Square Meter All-Up Weight : 87,969Kg Max Speed : 793Km/h Cruise Speed : 674Km/h Range : 5,077Km Service Ceiling : 12,405m Crew : 3 Amament : 12.7mm Machine Gun X 4 Bomb Load : 14,515Kg

Crew/passengers:

The 2005 issue of this American commemorative stamp shows that the Northrop Flying Wing has finally found the place it deserved as a landmark design in aviation history.