Silhouette challenge
Lightning Mate, What I should have said was 'unusually for this manufacturer, they proposed to use their own engine' as I can now recall at least three companies from that country which have built both airframes & engines.
Mechta
Mechta
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Yorkshire
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It looks very close to Vickers 'scheme C' flying wing bomber on 1942, but they never did engines. Did they?
Having said that I am pretty sure that its a Northrop design for a transport flying wing that is scaled up from their earlier test vehicle (the N9M?) and predating the XB-35. But I couldn't name it.
Having said that I am pretty sure that its a Northrop design for a transport flying wing that is scaled up from their earlier test vehicle (the N9M?) and predating the XB-35. But I couldn't name it.
Well, at last I've found your three-view drawing.
It is indeed a Northrop, but all it says is "Three-view of the Turbodyne V Version". There was also a four Allison engined version proposed.
It followed the YB-35/49.
It is indeed a Northrop, but all it says is "Three-view of the Turbodyne V Version". There was also a four Allison engined version proposed.
It followed the YB-35/49.
Well done Lightning Mate 
Got it! The Northrop Turbodyne V,
The XT-37 Turbodyne was developed by the Northrop-Hendy Company, a jointly-owned subsidiary with the Joshua Hendy Iron Works. Research on the turbine that resulted in the Turbodyne dated back to 1939, when Vladimir Pavlecka, then Northrop's chief of research, interested Jack Northrop in the potential of gas turbine power plants. Funded by a joint Army-Navy contract, the turbine development continued during the war years, and the first engine was completed in 1945. It was subsequently destroyed during tests, but a second machine continued in development. By 1950 its 50-hour endurance test was completed, delivering a record-breaking 7500 hp continuously. At the time, it was the most powerful aircraft power plant in the world, capable of delivering 10,000 hp with a suitable propeller. On the EB-35B, two Turbodynes were to drive large counter-rotating pusher propellers. With the cancellation of the EB-35B in 1949, prospects for flight tests of the engine ended. In 1950, at the direction of the Secretary of the Air Force, the patents, name, and technical data were released to the General Electric Company.[/quote]
Got it! The Northrop Turbodyne V, The XT-37 Turbodyne was developed by the Northrop-Hendy Company, a jointly-owned subsidiary with the Joshua Hendy Iron Works. Research on the turbine that resulted in the Turbodyne dated back to 1939, when Vladimir Pavlecka, then Northrop's chief of research, interested Jack Northrop in the potential of gas turbine power plants. Funded by a joint Army-Navy contract, the turbine development continued during the war years, and the first engine was completed in 1945. It was subsequently destroyed during tests, but a second machine continued in development. By 1950 its 50-hour endurance test was completed, delivering a record-breaking 7500 hp continuously. At the time, it was the most powerful aircraft power plant in the world, capable of delivering 10,000 hp with a suitable propeller. On the EB-35B, two Turbodynes were to drive large counter-rotating pusher propellers. With the cancellation of the EB-35B in 1949, prospects for flight tests of the engine ended. In 1950, at the direction of the Secretary of the Air Force, the patents, name, and technical data were released to the General Electric Company.[/quote]
Blimey Mechta,
What an excellent challenge. I've worn out my keyboard!
The EB-35B engines were, at the time, the most powerful in the world.
Looks like Skytrain was getting close.
Standby for another.....
What an excellent challenge. I've worn out my keyboard!
The EB-35B engines were, at the time, the most powerful in the world.
Looks like Skytrain was getting close.
Standby for another.....
Skytrain10, you could well be right, in fact I am sure you are right.
I am only going by what is available on the net, which matches a name to a drawing, so Northrop Turbodyne V is what I was looking for. As a result Lightning Mate has it.
I am only going by what is available on the net, which matches a name to a drawing, so Northrop Turbodyne V is what I was looking for. As a result Lightning Mate has it.
Last edited by Mechta; 18th Dec 2009 at 11:06. Reason: Seen Skytrain10's Drawing
Hi Skytrain10
I agree 100%. The danger with the internet is that it would be easy to post somebody's 'flight of fantasy', or 'alternate history' as I have seen some described, so I, and I'm sure others, appreciate some corroboration.
just figured a bit more info never does anyone any harm!
Blackburn B40 ?
The Blackburn B40 retracting-bottom flying-boat was a follow-on design to the Blackburn B20. The B20 had been designed with a shorter range (1,500 miles) than the mighty four-engined Sunderland Flying Boat (2,500 miles), But by 1940 the American PBY Catalina had shown that a two engined design could achieve the same endurance as the Sunderland and operate more economically. So in April 1940 ( a few weeks after the loss of the B20 prototype) a new specification (R13/40) was issued for a Sunderland replacement based around using the same principles as the B20, to be powered by either two Napier Sabre or Bristol Centaurus. It was anticipated that the new design would have the same range as the Sunderland but with increased speed and more effective defensive armament. Armament was to include a 20 mm cannon amongst the other defensive armament and perhaps a Vickers 40mm mounted in the nose for offensive use. The B40 was anticipated to be complimentary to the R14/40 project for a large flying boat with increased range (which led to the Short Shetland). The B40 design looked essentially similar to the B20, but had twin fins instead of the B20s single fin.
At the time the B40 specification was written the need to be able to patrol in the middle of the Atlantic was not anticipated, since the hunting grounds of the U boats were then in the Atlantic approaches, but with the success of radar equipped aircraft by Coastal Command the U-boats were forced to operate at greater ranges. Thus in early1941 it was felt desirable to increase the range of the B40 to at least 3,000 miles. Design work continued and two prototypes were ordered (the serial numbers ES966 and ES979 being allocated) but it was just not possible to achieve the range required with two engines while still retaining armament, a decent bomb-load and an acceptable single-engine performance, so the project was wound-down in late 1941 with formal cancellation in January 1942.
Last edited by Mechta; 18th Dec 2009 at 17:48.