Northrup Flying Wing - was Re: XH558 - was Re: using new technology etc

[Toby Thain]

On 2015-06-19 3:05 PM, geneb wrote:
> On Fri, 19 Jun 2015, Toby Thain wrote:
>
>>
>>  "in 1949 the Air Force ordered all the flying wings destroyed, all
>> the jigs and tools destroyed, every trace of the flying wing
>> eradicated. A few years later even the engineering drawings were all
>> destroyed by new Northrop management."
>>
> I don't know why they went to those lengths, but it's my understanding
> that the program was cancelled because at the time, the USAAF (USAF?)
> mandated stall testing as part of their development programs.  Without
> serious flight control computers, stalling a flying wing just ends up in
> a freshly planted aluminum tree.  Even WITH good computers, stalling a
> flying wing is a Bad Idea(tm).  AFAIK, the B-2 has never been stalled
> (on purpose), even during development.

Thanks. I knew there must be more to it... I wonder if the cited book 
covers this angle.

--Toby


>
> g.
>
>