First Flying Wings

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When questions are asked about the flying wing, there are those that undoubtedly mention the B2 Spirit “Stealth Bomber.” Most tend to emphasize the great cost and complexity of these aircraft rather than its elemental design. Those of an earlier generation may mention aircraft built by Northrop in the nineteen fifties. These aircraft were considered radically ahead of their time. They started with reciprocating engines turning propellers and eventually evolved into pure jet aircraft. This introduced a new problem inherent with the pure flying wings of the times (before fly-by-wire) and that was a lack of stability. Unfortunately, many records and working prototypes of flying wing aircraft design were lost in the World War II attacks on Germany which slowed progress. Pilots were unable to make the corrections necessary to keep these aircraft aloft in any actual combat maneuvering. The jets did away with the naturally stabilizing affect of the propellers and engineer...