Unmanned XB-35/YB-49 flying wing

[Jesse220]

I've been thinking that both Northrup's XB-35 and the YB-49 flying wing Bomber would become unmanned aircraft.

[Rick Lowe]

I had a thought of turning one on end (so the wingtips become top and bottom); either leave complete, or you could truncate one or both wings and add a lump at that point.

Add a bridge at the front, some lumps and bumps on the leading and trailing edges, turn the wheelbays into docking bays, (knocking them through to the other side) and call it a large spacecraft.

With the size of the landing gear/docking bays, it would probably turn out to be either 1/1000 or 1/2500, both good Space Navy scales.

Just a thought...

Cheers

[PR19_Kit]

I've been thinking that both Northrup's XB-35 and the YB-49 flying wing Bomber would become unmanned aircraft.

They'd have needed a quantum improvement in control technology for it to have worked. They were both pretty unstable and needed a good crew to fly them.

[jcf]

Actually most of the lateral stability problems (which was the only big issue) were handled by the Honeywell autopilot system
tested late in the program. Anyhow, the stability issue was overstated and only actually applied to the use of the aircraft in
the mythical USAAF WWII-style 'accurate' strategic bombing role, the old 'bomb in a pickle barrel' crap. All which was irrelevant
to the nuke bomber role and was, probably, used as a convenient excuse to rubbish the wing concept. 
The range issues of the jet version, however, were real.

Just imagine the flight deck filled with bank upon bank of lovely vacuum tubes/valves, score upon score of diodes, relays, resistors
and capacitors, a veritable airborne ENIAC. 

... or perhaps ranks of Turing et al 'bombes'.

[zenrat]

Then imagine how hot would have been in there...

[pyro-manic]

I had a thought of turning one on end (so the wingtips become top and bottom); either leave complete, or you could truncate one or both wings and add a lump at that point.

Add a bridge at the front, some lumps and bumps on the leading and trailing edges, turn the wheelbays into docking bays, (knocking them through to the other side) and call it a large spacecraft.

With the size of the landing gear/docking bays, it would probably turn out to be either 1/1000 or 1/2500, both good Space Navy scales.

Just a thought...

Cheers

Been playing Homeworld, have we?

[Jesse220]

Yeah if we made unmanned versions of the XB-35 and/or the YB-49 Bomber, they could be used for recon.

[Rick Lowe]

I had a thought of turning one on end (so the wingtips become top and bottom); either leave complete, or you could truncate one or both wings and add a lump at that point.

Add a bridge at the front, some lumps and bumps on the leading and trailing edges, turn the wheelbays into docking bays, (knocking them through to the other side) and call it a large spacecraft.

With the size of the landing gear/docking bays, it would probably turn out to be either 1/1000 or 1/2500, both good Space Navy scales.

Just a thought...

Cheers

Been playing Homeworld, have we?

Um... no, it was a product of my Fevered Imagination (some say Deranged, but I have placed them under close observation)...

I must look into this "Homeworld" of which you speak... mayhap there have been some Unauthorised Incursions when I have been in Powered Down Mode...

Though it would look similar to something I've seen in a Durham Red story...

Cheers

[Jesse220]

I had a thought of turning one on end (so the wingtips become top and bottom); either leave complete, or you could truncate one or both wings and add a lump at that point.

Add a bridge at the front, some lumps and bumps on the leading and trailing edges, turn the wheelbays into docking bays, (knocking them through to the other side) and call it a large spacecraft.

With the size of the landing gear/docking bays, it would probably turn out to be either 1/1000 or 1/2500, both good Space Navy scales.

Just a thought...

Cheers

Been playing Homeworld, have we?

Um... no, it was a product of my Fevered Imagination (some say Deranged, but I have placed them under close observation)...

I must look into this "Homeworld" of which you speak... mayhap there have been some Unauthorised Incursions when I have been in Powered Down Mode...

Though it would look similar to something I've seen in a Durham Red story...

Cheers

You might have a point

[seadude]

I had a thought of turning one on end (so the wingtips become top and bottom); either leave complete, or you could truncate one or both wings and add a lump at that point.

Add a bridge at the front, some lumps and bumps on the leading and trailing edges, turn the wheelbays into docking bays, (knocking them through to the other side) and call it a large spacecraft.

With the size of the landing gear/docking bays, it would probably turn out to be either 1/1000 or 1/2500, both good Space Navy scales.

Just a thought...

Cheers

Kinda reminds me of the Chig battleship from the tv series Space: Above & Beyond.

[PR19_Kit]

Yeah if we made unmanned versions of the XB-35 and/or the YB-49 Bomber, they could be used for recon.

The RAF DID use them for recon, but in a manned version, the Northrop Northampton B(PR1)

[He says with a straight face.... ]

[pyro-manic]

Homeworld opening cutscene: https://youtu.be/KNRxCbQe5mY

[Jesse220]

Homeworld opening cutscene: https://youtu.be/KNRxCbQe5mY

What's this got to do with my idea?

[pyro-manic]

Ummm. You have been reading the thread, right?

[Jesse220]

Ummm. You have been reading the thread, right?

Yes but I don't understand. I'm confused