More B-49

[thundergull pilot]

For a different perspective on this subuject one should read Graham White's book on the Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engine which powered the B-35. It is his opnion that the B-35 / B-49 had major controllability issues. I beleive that the crash that killed Glen Edwards was in a B-49 that control was lost. One final point why the B-36 was selected instead of the B-35 was the fact that the bomb bay was not large enough to handle a nuclear device but the B-36s had enough room to carry one of those nuclear bombs. The early nuclear bombs were very large and heavy.

[Stephanie]

This thread is really very interesting, thank you for sharing your stories and the pictures!

[RickH]

The 4360 was never intended to be the final engine choice for the B-35. Northrop was developing the Turbodyne turboprop and gearbox. Problems with the govt furnished gearboxes and contrarotating props forced the change to single props in order to not delay flight test. The problems encountered with the turboprop development made the decision to change them over to jets was not easy. They knew that using the jets would cut into the expected unrefueled range. Part of the appeal of the wing was the range, it was expected that with the turboprop the B-35 would be able to carry a 10,000lb bomb load 10,500 miles unrefueled.

[bdk]

It is his opnion that the B-35 / B-49 had major controllability issues. I beleive that the crash that killed Glen Edwards was in a B-49 that control was lost.

The reports at the time cited turbulence in the bomb bay affecting how the bombs dropped out and lack of sufficient directional stability for bomb aiming. Regarding Glenn Edwards, test flying is dangerous. Part of testing is to explore the limits of controllability of an aircraft so that the safe envelope can be defined. Planes of Fame has operated their N9MB flying wing, a 1/3 scale demonstration aircraft with nearly identical physical shape, with no controllabilty issues.

[RickH]

The A-26 Invader suffers from turbulence in the bombbay. It was easily solved by adding three blades to the bombbay door mechanism. When you select open on the doors these three blades deploy prior to the doors opening. They break up the airflow at high speeds and allow the bombs to fall out in a normal manner.

I'm not saying the Wings didn't have developmental problems, all new aircraft have teething troubles that must be worked out. The cancellation of the Flying Wings and the followup systematic destruction, the classified reports, etc. just smells too me. Most people don't know that the Gleen Edwards crash report is still classified. There is educated speculation that Edwards may not heve even been flying when the wing he was killed in crashed.

Another of the YB-49s was wrecked in high speed taxi tests out on the dry lakebed. They were doing sharp turns at high speed until it flipped over on its back. I understand the ruts in the lakebed are still visible after all of these years.

[ww2John]

Sorry I can not remember the name of the documentary that currently shows up on cable here stateside.

In it, former Test Pilot Bob Cardenas speaks clearly and fairly extensively about his test flying of the Northrop Flying Wings, including one particularly hairy test flight and speculates on why Edwards crashed.

Since I do not have the details in front of me, I will not trust my faulty memory to "repeat" Mr. Cardenas' remarks here.

[RickH]

Cardenas flew the record breaking flight to Andrews. The return trip stopped at Wright Field in Dayton. After an overnite stop the crew assembled for the departure the next morning. A crew member was missing, Cardenas was told that the guy was sick and had been asked to stay behind. Cardenas wouldn't leave without him, the crewman showed up and he was nervous but otherwise OK. West of Ohio engine problems began to develop, after 4 hrs and 10 minutes Cardenas shut down four engines due to engine fires. 3 on the left and one on the right. 50% power shutdown. Cardenas was worried about the other four and elected to land at Winslow Arizona Municipal Airport. The investigation showed that the oil tanks had not been filled prior to leaving Wright Field. The J-35 oil system was not a recirculating system and oil was pumped overboard as it circulated through the engine. The FBI investigated and many people believed it was sabotage. The FBI conclusions were never released to the public.

On the morning of Glenn Edwards fatal flight prior to Cardenas' flight from Wright field, a crewman missed the flight because he reported in sick at the base hospital. It was the same crewman who tried to miss the flight with Cardenas.

A week after Cardenas returned to Muroc there was an investigation of the multiple engine fires, before any sabotage could be exposed the crewman was killed in a strange motorcycle accident out in the Mojave Desert.

Except for Max Stanley ( Northrop Test Pilot ) Cardenas probably had more Flying Wing time than all of the other USAF pilots in the program.

Last edited by RickH on Mon Feb 05, 2007 7:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[tulsaboy]

What kinds of plans survived the systematic destruction of the B-35 program? Did any structural diagrams survive, are there pictures of the interior structure? It would be interesting to know how much of the structure was completely unique to the flying wing, and how much of it was carried over from other Northrop projects.

Has anyone ever had any serious thoughts about building a full scale mock-up, or possibly even (dare I say it?) building a replica?

kevin

[Steve Nelson]

The documentary is called "The Wing Will Fly." I taped it off the Discovery Channel about ten years ago, but a little Googling shows that you can get copies on VHS. Definately a fascinating show.

SN

[agent86]

Mr.Cardenas was not a fan of the B-49's handling quirks.He claims that it tumbled on him while studying stall characteristics and say's that he warned Mr. Edwards to never stall it.He believes that a stall killed Edwards.They dont stall the B-2 either.he does give the plane good marks for areas in which it flew well,but it over all he wasnt a big fan and says so without getting caught up in Hindsight acclaim. I love the plane for what it was and for its absolute beauty.