For anyone who has not yet hit delete. Northrup,s YB-49 had a max gross
weight of
215,500 pounds. Takeoff was at 115 MPH. Landing with the full flaps is at 115
to 125 MPH. Wingspan was 172 feet. (from the pilots handbook).

 Average speed over a  2,258 mile flight was 511.2 MPH. The last wing built
had a top speed of 550 MPH. Not bad for Febuary of 1949.

Lynn E. Hanover

Page 170 Northrop Flying Wings:
"In early February 1949 the YB-49 made a flight from Muroc to Andrews AFB
Near Washington DC in 4 hours and 15 minutes."

Page 172: "As good as the YB-49's time to the east coast of the US it was

second

best. The day before Major Russ Schlereh flew an XB-47 from Moses Lake

Washington

to Andrews (about the same distance as the YB 49 flew) in 3 hours and 46

minutes."

Paul Lamar

 Apparently a basically OK aircraft but claimed to hunt significantly in
yaw.  Claimed
to be a poorer bombing platform than B36.   Some questions whether then SecDef
Symington was on General Dynamics payroll as he threatened Northrop if they
didn't sell out to GD, then cancelled the flying wing and quickly had all
flying aircraft destroyed and tooling.   Can't dispute the inferiority if they
can't retest.
Suspicious, but no proof.

I still worry about the CG range and ability to deal with significant flaps,
pitch authority-wise.  Certainly a lot less fuselage drag.  ;-)

Bill
Long EZ builder & pilot
mechanical engineer

 
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