Northrop JB-1 Bat

Northrop JB-1 Bat
Paese	Usa
Ruolo	Prototipo di ala volante a reazione
Prima mosca	27 agosto 1943
Costruito	Inconsapevole

Le Northrop JB-1 "Bat" era un missile da crociera statunitense da superficie a superficie che era un prototipo di ala volante a reazione. Il programma MX-543 della United States Army Air Forces fu avviato nel settembre 1942 per utilizzare versioni costruite su licenza del motore a reazione di Frank Whittle (General Electric J31). La Northrop Corporation fu contratta alla fine del 1943, e furono costruite solo 10 strutture aeree JB-1. Una versione con equipaggio fu trainata per il 1o volo il "27 agosto 1943", dal Rogers Dry Lake e una versione aliante fu lanciata da una slitta a razzo e si schiantò nel dicembre 1944. Un JB-1 senza equipaggio alimentato da un turbogetto General Electric B-1 improvvisato con una campata alare di 8,64 m (28 piedi e 4 pollici) fece il suo primo volo dall'isola santa rosa di Eglin Field, in Florida, il 7 dicembre 1944, e si schiantò a 400 metri dal lanciatore ferroviario.

fonte: Pipistrello Northrop JB-1 su Wikipedia

Northrop JB-1 Bat Walk Around
Photographer	Vladimir Yakubov
Localisation	Western Museum of Flight, Torrance
Photos	40

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Northrop JB-1 Bat 10

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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)
Ruolo	Experimental Cruise Missile / Flying Bomb
National Origin	Stati Uniti
Produttore	Northrop Aircraft
First Flight (Glider)	August 1944
Equipaggio	0 (Unmanned)
Guidance	Preset gyro-pilot system
Warhead	Approximately 900 kg (2,000 lb)
Lunghezza	4.37 m (14 ft 4 in)
Apertura alare	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.

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