Recent from talks
Northrop XP-79
Knowledge base stats:
Talk channels stats:
Members stats:
Northrop XP-79
The Northrop XP-79, USAAF project number MX-365, was a rocket and jet-powered flying wing fighter aircraft, designed by Northrop. The pilot operated the aircraft in a prone position, permitting much greater g-forces to be resisted by the pilot in pitch. The XP-79 also used a welded magnesium monocoque structure instead of riveted aluminum.
In 1942, Jack Northrop conceived the XP-79 as a high-speed rocket-powered flying-wing fighter aircraft. In January 1943, a contract for two prototypes under the XP-79 designation was issued by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).
It was planned to use a 2,000 lbf (8,900 N) thrust XCALR-2000A-1 "rotojet" rocket motor from Aerojet that used mono-ethylaniline fuel and red fuming nitric acid (RFNA) oxidizer. However, the rocket motor, which used canted rockets to drive turbo-pumps was unsatisfactory and the aircraft was fitted with two Westinghouse 19B turbojets and re-designated XP-79B.
The XP-79 was built using a welded magnesium alloy monocoque structure with a leading edge thickness of 0.75 in (19 mm) which thinned out to 0.125 in (3.2 mm) at the trailing edge.
The pilot controlled the XP-79 through a tiller bar and intakes mounted at the wingtips supplied air for the unusual bellows-boosted split elevons which opened differentially to provide lateral (yaw) control, by increasing drag on one side of the aircraft, in addition to providing roll and pitch. The aircraft was also fitted with airbrakes outboard of them, also for yaw control. No rudders were used, and the vertical surfaces were simple fixed fins with no flight controls.
Northrop was given a contract to build three glider demonstrators to test the design. Given the Northrop designation NS-12, the three gliders were also given project numbers from the USAAF. Confusingly, two project numbers were used, one MX-324 when discussing secret aspects of the powered gliders, and another, MX-334, relating to the aircraft when being built and flown as pure gliders.
The MX-334 was a flying wing glider with no tail surfaces, similar in layout and construction to the Northrop N-9M. Completed in late Spring 1943, MX-334 No.1 was tested in NACA Langley's wind tunnel, after which a large wire-braced fin was added for directional stability at high speeds. The first flight attempts were carried out by the no.2 aircraft towed behind a Cadillac car for low level take-off and landing tests, with no success. After modifications the first launch was carried out on 4 September 1943, towed behind a large truck. For more comprehensive testing, a Lockheed P-38 Lightning was used to tow the aircraft on 2 October 1943.
In early 1944 the no.2 aircraft was modified to take the 2,009 lbf (8,940 N) Aerojet XCAL-200 rocket motor, and reverted to the secret MX-324 designation. Testing with the rocket motor commenced on 22 June 1944, with the first aerotow launch for a powered flight on 5 July 1944, making it the first US-built rocket-powered aircraft to fly. Flight testing was concluded by 1 August 1944 and the two remaining aircraft were disposed of. MX-334 no.3 was written off on its second flight, on 10 November 1943, after Harry Crosby lost control in the prop-wash of the P-38 tug.
Hub AI
Northrop XP-79 AI simulator
(@Northrop XP-79_simulator)
Northrop XP-79
The Northrop XP-79, USAAF project number MX-365, was a rocket and jet-powered flying wing fighter aircraft, designed by Northrop. The pilot operated the aircraft in a prone position, permitting much greater g-forces to be resisted by the pilot in pitch. The XP-79 also used a welded magnesium monocoque structure instead of riveted aluminum.
In 1942, Jack Northrop conceived the XP-79 as a high-speed rocket-powered flying-wing fighter aircraft. In January 1943, a contract for two prototypes under the XP-79 designation was issued by the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF).
It was planned to use a 2,000 lbf (8,900 N) thrust XCALR-2000A-1 "rotojet" rocket motor from Aerojet that used mono-ethylaniline fuel and red fuming nitric acid (RFNA) oxidizer. However, the rocket motor, which used canted rockets to drive turbo-pumps was unsatisfactory and the aircraft was fitted with two Westinghouse 19B turbojets and re-designated XP-79B.
The XP-79 was built using a welded magnesium alloy monocoque structure with a leading edge thickness of 0.75 in (19 mm) which thinned out to 0.125 in (3.2 mm) at the trailing edge.
The pilot controlled the XP-79 through a tiller bar and intakes mounted at the wingtips supplied air for the unusual bellows-boosted split elevons which opened differentially to provide lateral (yaw) control, by increasing drag on one side of the aircraft, in addition to providing roll and pitch. The aircraft was also fitted with airbrakes outboard of them, also for yaw control. No rudders were used, and the vertical surfaces were simple fixed fins with no flight controls.
Northrop was given a contract to build three glider demonstrators to test the design. Given the Northrop designation NS-12, the three gliders were also given project numbers from the USAAF. Confusingly, two project numbers were used, one MX-324 when discussing secret aspects of the powered gliders, and another, MX-334, relating to the aircraft when being built and flown as pure gliders.
The MX-334 was a flying wing glider with no tail surfaces, similar in layout and construction to the Northrop N-9M. Completed in late Spring 1943, MX-334 No.1 was tested in NACA Langley's wind tunnel, after which a large wire-braced fin was added for directional stability at high speeds. The first flight attempts were carried out by the no.2 aircraft towed behind a Cadillac car for low level take-off and landing tests, with no success. After modifications the first launch was carried out on 4 September 1943, towed behind a large truck. For more comprehensive testing, a Lockheed P-38 Lightning was used to tow the aircraft on 2 October 1943.
In early 1944 the no.2 aircraft was modified to take the 2,009 lbf (8,940 N) Aerojet XCAL-200 rocket motor, and reverted to the secret MX-324 designation. Testing with the rocket motor commenced on 22 June 1944, with the first aerotow launch for a powered flight on 5 July 1944, making it the first US-built rocket-powered aircraft to fly. Flight testing was concluded by 1 August 1944 and the two remaining aircraft were disposed of. MX-334 no.3 was written off on its second flight, on 10 November 1943, after Harry Crosby lost control in the prop-wash of the P-38 tug.
Recent media