Northrop YB-35

The Northrop YB-35 was an experimental flying wing bomber developed by Northrop Corporation in the 1940s. Conceived by Jack Northrop as a departure from conventional designs, the YB-35 was intended to provide the United States Army Air Forces with a long‑range heavy bomber that could carry a payload while benefiting from reduced drag and structural weight. Two prototypes were built, the first flying in 1946 and the second in 1948. Powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-4360 Wasp Major radial engines driving large propellers, the aircraft featured a smooth, tailless wing with integrated fuel tanks and a pressurized cockpit near the forward fuselage. Its layout gave the YB-35 a theoretical maximum range of over 4,000 miles and a ceiling above 30,000 feet, while the lack of a conventional tail reduced weight and radar cross‑section. Although flight tests revealed handling difficulties, vibration problems, and the rapid emergence of jet propulsion, the YB-35 demonstrated the aerodynamic advantages of the flying‑wing concept and directly influenced the later Northrop YB-49 jet variant. The program’s lessons paved the way for future Northrop designs such as the B‑2 Spirit, cementing the YB‑35’s place as a pivotal step in the evolution of stealth and efficient bomber architecture.

Northrop

Classification

Production & History

Design & Classification