Northrop JB-1 Bat | |
|---|---|
| 国 | 米国 |
| 役割 | プロトタイプジェット動力飛行翼 |
| ファーストフライ | 1943年8月27日 |
| 構築 | 知りません |
ザ ノースロップ JB-1 「バット」は、ジェット式飛行翼のプロトタイプであった米国の地対地巡航ミサイルでした。アメリカ陸軍空軍MX-543プログラムは、フランク・ホイットルのジェットエンジン(ゼネラル・エレクトリックJ31)のライセンス構築版を使用するために1942年9月に開始されました。ノースロップ社は1943年後半に契約し、わずか10機のJB-1機組が建設されました。●1944年12月にロケット推進型そりからグライダー版が打ち上げられ、1944年12月に墜落した「1943年8月27日」の1回の飛行で有人版がけっとりしました。1944年12月7日、フロリダ州エグリンフィールドのサンタローザ島から1回の飛行を行い、レールランチャーから400ヤード離れた場所で墜落した。
| Northrop JB-1 Bat Walk Around | |
|---|---|
| Photographer | Vladimir Yakubov |
| Localisation | Western Museum of Flight, Torrance |
| Photos | 40 |
関連項目:
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) |
|---|---|
| 役割 | Experimental Cruise Missile / Flying Bomb |
| National Origin | 米国 |
| メーカー | Northrop Aircraft |
| First Flight (Glider) | August 1944 |
| 乗組員 | 0 (Unmanned) |
| Guidance | Preset gyro-pilot system |
| Warhead | Approximately 900 kg (2,000 lb) |
| 長さ | 4.37 m (14 ft 4 in) |
| 翼 | 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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