XB-49
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The XB-49 was the experimental model of a bomber with the flying-wing design. It was the aircraft that preceded development of the famous B-2 stealth bomber. Originally designed by Northrop, this plane was planned to be the epitome of Jack Northrop's interpretation of a plane originally designed by German engineers. The XB-49 was initially designated as the YB-35, and YB-49 but in later developments, with variants to the design and configuration, it was officially named the XB-49.
[edit] History
The history of this unique aircraft began on September 30, 1942, when the US army ordered for thirteen YB-35 aircraft test aircraft. Later on, the order was increased to two hundred aircraft, but that order was soon canceled after frequent delays occurred during the production. Only one of the aircraft eventually was made and flown. But, with the YB-35's propeller-driven engines slowly being discontinued in production and jet engines replacing them, the two B-35s were re-engined with eight jet engines, and were re-designated as the YB-49. Later on, one YB-35A was built with six jet engines and was designated the YRB-49A. In mid-1948, the YB-49 program only lasted a couple of months, until it was canceled in 1949. The only YB-35 that was flown was soon stored in a garage, and was later on scrapped. From then on the series of aircraft were scrapped. In November of 1953, the last plane from the program, the YRB-49A, was scrapped.
[edit] Legacy
Only one plane in the XB-49 series was ever flown, but, its legacy still lives on. On November 22, 1988, after forty years of tests and re-tests, the B-2 stealth bomber was introduced to the public. This was the first bomber of Jack Northrop 's flying-wing design to be put in active service. This plane was built with four F-118 turbofan engines, unlike the eight jet engines in the YB-49. In 1999, during the Kosovo war in Yugoslavia, Northrop 's flying-wing design was proven to be an exceptional bomber. The XB-49 program was originally designed to meet this purpose, but, with modern improvements, its basic configuration is still used in the B-2, but not its exact design.
