Overview

Half a century before the B-2 stealth bomber entered service, the aircraft manufacturer John K. Northrop was already developing piston-engined prototypes that looked remarkably similar. A "flying wing" is theoretically very efficient, offering superior range and payload. With the USAAF hungry for such aircraft during World War II, Northrop, a flying wing enthusiast, was contracted to design a 172ft-span bomber. Fifteen XB-35/YB-35 airframes were built, some of which were converted into new variants, and three of which became jet-engined YB-49/YRB-49As. But engineers struggled to overcome stability problems, and several pilots were lost in crashes. In the 1950s the challenging program was canceled in favor of more conventional jets. This book explores Northrop's flying wings, from the small N-1M and N-9M prototypes to the full-scale bombers, and analyses their rich legacy. The flying wing program fed into Northrop's XP-56 and MX-324 "Rocket Wing" prototype fighters and, decades later, the success of the B-2 would rely to a surprising extent on Northrop's pioneering prototypes. Throughout the last century, one-off experimental aircraft and cutting-edge military prototypes have pushed the boundaries of what is possible. Authoritative and accessible, X-Planes is the series that explains the technology behind the world's most important prototype and research aircraft, their often dangerous flight-test careers, and how their successes and failures influenced frontline aircraft development. Book jacket.
ISBN-13

9781472825070

ISBN-10

1472825071

Weight

0.58 Pounds

Dimensions

7.21 x 0.19 x 9.62 In

List Price

$22.00

Format

Paperback

Language

English

Pages

80 pages

Publisher

Osprey Publishing

Published On

2019-02-21


View All Offers

Sort by:

Rows per page:

1–5 of 5

Condition
Seller
Seller Comments
Price
Used, Good
Seller details
Aspen Book Company
★★★★★

Denver, CO, USA

A well-loved companion. Corners and cover might show a little wear and you could find some notes or ...
$15.26

 Free delivery by: 29 Mar 2026

✨ Brand New
Seller details
indoo.com
★★★★☆

Avenel, NJ, USA

9781472825070.
$20.52

 Free delivery by: 29 Mar 2026

Brand New
Seller details
Paperbackshop
★★★★★

Bensenville, IL, USA

New Book. Shipped from UK in 4 to 14 days. Established seller since 2000. Please note we cannot of...
$24.72

 Free delivery by: 29 Mar 2026

Used, Good
Seller details
Bonita
★★★★☆

Santa Clarita, CA, USA

Access codes and supplements are not guaranteed with used items. May be an ex-library book.
$48.12

 Free delivery by: 29 Mar 2026

Brand New
Seller details
Bonita
★★★★☆

Santa Clarita, CA, USA

$70.68

 Free delivery by: 29 Mar 2026


Bookstores.com relies on cookies to improve your experience.