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Northrop YB-49 Flying Wing
Northrop · Strategic Bomber Demonstrator (Flying Wing) · USA · Early Jet (1946–1969)
The Northrop YB-49 was an American prototype jet-powered heavy bomber developed by Northrop Corporation shortly after World War II for service with the United States Air Force. The YB-49 featured a flying wing design and was a turbojet-powered development of the earlier, piston-engined Northrop XB-35 and YB-35. The two YB-49s built were both converted YB-35 test aircraft.
Specifications
- Category
- Fixed Wing
- Sub-Category
- Experimental
- Domain
- Defence
- Era
- Early Jet (1946–1969)
- Country
- USA
- Manufacturer
- Northrop
- Operator
- USAF
- Primary Role
- Strategic Bomber Demonstrator (Flying Wing)
- Status
- Retired
- Service Entry
- 1947
- Produced
- 2
- Engine
- 8× turbojet engines
- Thrust / Power
- 4000 lbf each
- Length (ft)
- 53
- Wingspan (ft)
- 172
- Empty Weight (lb)
- 88442
- MTOW (lb)
- 193938
- Service Ceiling (ft)
- 45700
- Max Speed (mph)
- 493
- Armament
- Guns: 4 × .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns (to be mounted in rotating "stinger" tail cone on all production aircraft); Bombs: 16,000 lb (7,260 kg) of ordnance