YB49

The Northrop YB-49 was a prototype jet-powered flying wing medium bomber aircraft developed by Northrop for the United States Air Force shortly after World War II. It was a development of the piston-engined YB-35, and the two YB-49s actually built were both converted YB-35 test aircraft. The aircraft was never to enter production, however, being passed over in favor of the more conventional Convair B-36 in service.

General characteristics

Crew: 7
Length: 53 ft 1 in (16.20 m)
Wingspan: 172 ft 0 in (52.40 m)
Height: 20 ft 3 in (6.2 m)
Wing area: 4,000 ft² (371.6 m²)
Airfoil: NACA 65-019 root, NACA 65-018 tip
Empty weight: 88,442 lb (40,116 kg)
Loaded weight: 133,559 lb (60,581 kg)
Max takeoff weight: 193,938 lb (87,969 kg)
Powerplant: 8× Allison/General Electric J35-A-19 turbojets, 3,800 lbf (17 kN) each

Performance

Maximum speed: 493 mph (793 km/h)
Range:
Combat: 1,615 mi (2,599 km)
Ferry: 3,578 mi (5,758 km)
Service ceiling: 45,700 ft (13,900 m)
Rate of climb: 3,758 ft/min (19.1 m/s)
Wing loading: 33 lb/ft² (163 kg/m²)
Thrust/weight: 0.23

Armament

Guns: 4 x .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns
Bombs: 32,000 lb (14,500 kg)