Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Thu Jul 10, 2025 5:28 pm

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: B-49 air-to-air
PostPosted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:12 pm 
Offline
Co-MVP - 2006
User avatar

Joined: Sat May 01, 2004 11:21 pm
Posts: 11474
Location: Salem, Oregon
A cosmic jet that was just a little ahead of its time.
Image

_________________
Don't touch my junk!!


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:23 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Mon Feb 13, 2006 9:42 pm
Posts: 2708
Location: NP, NJ, USA
Wow, great shot Jack. I have never seen any pictures of the B-49 with the pylon engines.

Anyone have more info on the extra motors? I only knew of the ones in the fuselage.

_________________
Share your story: Rutgers Oral History Archive http://oralhistory.rutgers.edu/


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 2:36 pm 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:10 pm
Posts: 4173
Location: Pearland, Texas
This is actually one of the RB-49s. Extra range tanks were fitted in place of the two engines that were mounted externally. This is the version of the aircraft that actually received a production contract.

The YB-49s were scrapped on the Northrop ramp, the RB-49 was at another location and escaped the original scrapping order. The USAF found out they missed one a year later. The scrapping crew was reassembled and the last of the Flying Wings was reduced to pieces small enough to be hauled off in dump trucks. The ultimate destination was never revealed.

The only surviving example of the program is the N9M at Planes of Fame.


Top
 Profile  
 
 Post subject:
PostPosted: Fri Feb 02, 2007 3:10 pm 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Thu Mar 24, 2005 10:10 pm
Posts: 4173
Location: Pearland, Texas
Sasnak, the N1 was Northrop's first true successful wing aircraft. It first flew in 1940. It was funded inhouse as a Jack Northrop passion.

The success of the N1 led AF official to look at the efficiency of an all flying wing planform for a long range bomber that would be able to bomb Europe from the NA continent. This was the XB-35 which in it's final form was supposed to be turboprop powered. Problems with the worlds first turboprop engine led to the conversion of the XB-35s to pure jet. It was renumbered to YB-49.

The N9M is a 1/3rd scale prototype/proof of concept of the XB-35/YB-49 program which was USAF funded. Four were built.


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 4 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Lynn Allen and 26 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group