Northrop JB-1 Bat | |
|---|---|
| Země | SPOJENÉ STÁTY |
| Roli | Prototyp proudového létajícího křídla |
| První moucha | 27. srpna 1943 |
| Postaven | Neznámé |
Tá Northrop JB-1 "Bat" byla americká střela s plochou dráhou letu země-země, která byla prototypem proudového létajícího křídla. Program MX-543 armádního letectva Spojených států byl zahájen v září 1942 pro použití licenčně vyráběných verzí proudového motoru Franka Whittlea (General Electric J31). Northrop Corporation byla smluvně zavázána koncem roku 1943 a bylo vyrobeno pouze 10 draků JB-1. Verze s posádkou byla odtažena pro 1. let "27. srpna 1943" z Rogers Dry Lake a kluzáková verze byla vypuštěna z raketového pohonu a havarovala v prosinci 1944. Bezpilotní JB-1 poháněný improvizovaným proudovým motorem General Electric B-1 s rozpětím křídel 28 stop 4 palce (8,64 m) uskutečnil svůj 1. let z ostrova Santa Rosa na Floridě Eglin Field 7. prosince 1944 a havaroval 400 yardů od železničního odpalovacího zařízení.
| Northrop JB-1 Bat Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Western Museum of Flight, Torrance |
| Photos | 40 |
Viz také:
General Characteristics and Role
The Northrop JB-1 Bat was an experimental, unpiloted pulse-jet powered flying wing missile developed by the United States during World War II, based heavily on aerodynamic work done by the German Horten brothers. Its development was part of the United States Army Air Forces’ (USAAF) Jet-Propelled Missile program (JB). The JB-1’s design was highly unconventional, utilizing a pure flying wing configuration with twin rudders and a very clean aerodynamic profile. It was intended as a short-range surface-to-surface cruise missile that could carry a massive warhead (comparable to the German V-1 flying bomb). The project was ultimately terminated due to propulsion issues and the end of the war, but it significantly contributed to Northrop’s pioneering work on tailless aircraft.
| Property | Typical Value (JB-1) |
|---|---|
| Roli | Experimental Cruise Missile / Flying Bomb |
| National Origin | Spojené státy americké |
| Výrobce | Northrop Aircraft |
| First Flight (Glider) | August 1944 |
| Posádky | 0 (Unmanned) |
| Guidance | Preset gyro-pilot system |
| Warhead | Approximately 900 kg (2,000 lb) |
| Délka | 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in) |
| Rozpětí křídel | 9.14 m (30 ft 0 in) |
| Launch Weight | 3,175 kg (7,000 lb) |
Propulsion and Launch Method
- Engine: 2 x General Electric BQ-7 (pulse-jet engines).
- Thrust (Total): Approximately 4.45 kN (1,000 lbf).
- Maximum Speed: Designed for high subsonic speeds.
- Launch Method: The JB-1 was designed to be launched from a rocket-powered sled running on a fixed railway track, similar to the method used for the German V-1 missile.
- Propulsion Issues: Initial tests with the pulse-jets were unsuccessful due to performance and reliability problems, leading to a modified glide-only prototype being tested first.
Legacy and Further Development
- Pilot Modification: After the failure of the pulse-jet system, the design was briefly converted into a piloted glider (designated JB-1A) for aerodynamic testing, including a side-by-side cockpit, which helped validate the flying wing concept.
- Follow-on: The JB-1 project provided valuable data that directly influenced Northrop’s later, larger flying wing aircraft, such as the XB-35 and YB-49 bombers, and eventually the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber.
- Termination: The program was cancelled shortly after the end of the war, as the need for the short-range missile rapidly diminished, allowing resources to be shifted to long-range missile and bomber programs.
Zobrazení : 1589
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