Convair XB-46

The Convair XB‑46 was a revolutionary American jet bomber developed in the mid‑1940s by Convair, a subsidiary of the Consolidated‑Vultee corporation. Conceived shortly after World War II, the aircraft was intended to replace the aging prop‑driven B‑29 Superfortress and to demonstrate the United States’ ability to field a high‑speed, high‑altitude strategic bomber built around newly available turbojet engines. The prototype first flew on October 7, 1947, powered by four Allison J35 axial‑flow turbojets mounted in a sleek, shoulder‑wing arrangement. Its aerodynamic design featured a shoulder‑mounted, thin‑capped wing and a streamlined fuselage with the crew compartment located forward of the wing, giving the XB‑46 an unusually clean profile. The bomber could attain a top speed of roughly 520 mph (840 km/h) and a service ceiling of 40,000 feet, far surpassing contemporary piston‑engine bombers. Although the aircraft demonstrated impressive performance, the rapid emergence of more capable designs such as the B‑45 and B‑47, combined with budget constraints, led to the cancellation of the XB‑46 program after only two prototypes were built. Nevertheless, the XB‑46 contributed valuable data on jet‑propulsion, high‑speed aerodynamics, and systems integration, influencing later Convair jet projects and cementing its place as a stepping stone in the transition from propeller‑driven to jet bombers.