Northrop Flying Wings: Exploring the Legendary XB-35 Through Stunning Photos

 

The Northrop XB-35 is testament to the adventurous spirit of innovation that defined the aviation industry in the early 1940s.

Developed by Northrop Corporation in cooperation with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), the XB-35 was an experimental aircraft that pushed the boundaries of aeronautical engineering.

With its revolutionary flying wing design, impressive payload capacity, and ambitious goals, the XB-35 aimed to revolutionize long-range strategic bombing.

At the core of the XB-35's groundbreaking design was its flying wing configuration. This unconventional approach integrated the wing and fuselage seamlessly, eliminating the need for a separate tail assembly.

The absence of a conventional tail section allowed better stability, less drag and increased lift, which ultimately improved performance and fuel efficiency.

Detailed engineering began in early 1942. A fuselage-like crew cabin was to be installed inside the wing; This included a tail cone projecting from the trailing edge.

This tail cone would house a remote sighting station for the bomber's gunner and, in the production aircraft, a group of rear-firing machine guns. In the central section of the cabin, there were folding bunks for off-duty crew on long missions.

The aircraft's bomb load was to be carried in six small bomb sections, three in each wing section, fitted with roll-away doors; This basic design prohibited the carrying of larger bombs and early nuclear bombs, without bomb bay redesign and modifications.

The XB-35 and YB-35, powered by four rear-facing propellers, were flown with moderate success.

Actual flight tests of the aircraft revealed several problems: the contra-rotating props caused persistent heavy drive-shaft vibration and the government-supplied gearbox frequently malfunctioned and reduced the effectiveness of the propeller controls.

After only 19 flights, Northrop retired the first XB-35; The second aircraft was grounded after eight test flights.

Ultimately, the program was terminated due to its technical difficulties and the obsolescence of its reciprocating propeller engines, and the fact that it was far behind schedule and over budget.

Another factor contributing to the program's failure was Northrop's tendency to become involved in too many experimental programs, which spread its small engineering staff too far.

While the competing propeller-driven B-36 was by then obsolete and had the same or even greater development problems, the Air Force needed a very long-range, post-war nuclear bomber to counter the perceived Soviet threat. was needed.

There have long been conspiracy theories about the cancellation of the Flying Wing program; Specifically, Jack Northrop alleges that Secretary of the Air Force Stuart Symington attempted to force him to merge his company with Atlas Corporation-controlled Convair.

In an interview taped in 1979, Jack Northrop claimed that the Flying Wing contract was canceled because he did not agree to the merger because Convair's merger demands were "grossly unfair to Northrop."

When Northrop refused, Symington reportedly arranged for the B-35 and B-49 programs to be cancelled. A short time later, after leaving government service, Symington became president of Conover.

The legacy of the XB-35 extends far beyond its technological advancements. It symbolizes the spirit of exploration and pursuit of excellence that has driven the aviation industry forward.

The courage and vision of the engineers and designers involved in the XB-35 program continue to inspire generations of aviation enthusiasts, reminding us of the remarkable achievements made possible through human ingenuity.

The concept was revisited in the 1980s, as the smooth profile of the flying wing made it less likely to reflect radar waves.

This insight, along with advances in electronic stabilization, led to the creation of the now iconic B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.