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Thread: What Happened To Flying Wings?

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    Netherlands Avalon Member ExomatrixTV's Avatar
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    Exclamation What Happened To Flying Wings?

    • What Happened To Flying Wings?

    At the start of the 1940’s, flying wing aircraft seemed destined to be the next evolution in aircraft design. By eliminating structural components typically found on conventional aircraft, such as engine nacelles, fuselage and tail, parasitic drag would be reduced down to its absolute minimum. The result would be a high-lift, low-drag aircraft with unequaled speed, range and efficiency. Despite earlier efforts around the world to develop all-wing aircraft designs, arguably no single person was more committed to the concept than pioneering American aircraft designer Jack Northrop. Beginning in the 1920’s Northrop studied the concept, drawing up countless designs for flying wing aircraft.

    By 1940, he had successfully produced two prototypes, the Model 1 (“X216H”) in 1929 and the Northrop N-1M in 1940. But Northrop’s ambitions went far beyond just experimental planes. Responding to an urgent need for the United States to develop the first ever intercontinental bomber, in 1941 Northrop presented the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) with a concept for an enormous flying wing bomber that would offer unparalleled speed, range and efficiency. Not only would the aircraft far outperform conventional bombers, the all-wing design would make it structurally more simple and economical to build.



    Impressed with Northrop’s concept, the USAAF agreed to fund the aircraft’s development, ordering an experimental model designated as the XB-35 and pre-production models designated as YB-35s. The USAAF would eventually order over 200 production aircraft which were to be designated as B-35s.

    Later, a jet powered version, designated as the YB-49 would also be produced. But engineering such unconventional aircraft would be a daunting engineering challenge for Northrop and his small team of engineers. Eliminating conventional control surfaces would maximize lift and minimize drag, but it would also create new unforeseen technical issues, many of which would only be discovered during flight testing - with tragic consequences. Despite best efforts by Northrop to solve technical issues with flying wing aircraft, solutions would prove elusive using technology available in the 1940s.

    Last edited by ExomatrixTV; 30th August 2022 at 18:26.
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    Default Re: What Happened To Flying Wings?

    • Yb-49 With 8 50mm Edfs II: Third Flight And First Successful Landing:

    • Northrop XB-35 & YB-35 "Flying Wing" - A Short History:

    The Northrop XB-35 and YB-35 was an experimental design, "flying wing" heavy bomber developed by Northrop during and after World War II. It was intended for long-range bombing missions, and was planned to be able to bomb Nazi-occupied Europe in the event that Britain fell.
    • The Story of the Northrop YB- 49 Flying Wing - Restored Color - 1949:
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    Netherlands Avalon Member ExomatrixTV's Avatar
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    Default Re: What Happened To Flying Wings?






    This ultra-rare documentary from 1979 has never been released on home video in any format, and hasn't been on PBS TV since 1980. Includes John K. Northrop's final interview. Also included are test pilots Max Stanley & Robert Cardenas. Be sure to check my channel for the best in VINTAGE & RARE airliner videos!


    • John Knudsen Northrop (November 10, 1895 – February 18, 1981) was an American aircraft industrialist and designer, who founded the Northrop Corporation in 1939.
    His career began in 1916 as a draftsman for Loughead Aircraft Manufacturing Company (founded 1912). He joined the Douglas Aircraft Company in 1923, where in time he became a project engineer. In 1927 he joined the Lockheed Corporation, where he was a chief engineer on the Lockheed Vega transport. He left in 1929 to found Avion Corporation, which he sold in 1930. Two years later, he founded the Northrop Corporation. This firm became a subsidiary of Douglas Aircraft in 1939, so he co-founded a second company named Northrop.
    Last edited by ExomatrixTV; 30th August 2022 at 20:48.
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    Default Re: What Happened To Flying Wings?

    Last edited by ExomatrixTV; 30th August 2022 at 19:18.
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    Default Re: What Happened To Flying Wings?

    The american B-2 stealth bomber is still in service. It was produced from the late '8os until 2ooo, I think 21 units.

    I am unfamiliar with foreign military aviation so I do not know if anyone else uses the flying wing. I think this is the only american one.

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    Default Re: What Happened To Flying Wings?








    • "Hitlers Stealth Fighter?"

    • Disclaimer: am not "pro Nazi" am not "glorifying" WWII Germans ... nor do I "secretly" worship them ... far from it ... I just study things that most mainstream media & "government approved education" ignores for decades!
    cheers,
    John 🦜🦋🌳
    Last edited by ExomatrixTV; 30th August 2022 at 20:50.
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