WestPundit
Wednesday, May 30, 2007
Commercial Flying Wing:
Here's something interesting from Google patent search - US Patent 2,650,780 - the passenger version of Jack Northrup's "Flying Wing".
Of course, by the time this patent was granted, it was moot, as instability problems with the YB-49 doomed the flying wing. (But note that the illustrated design is for a prop-drive craft, like the earlier YB-35.)
We are still unlikely to be transported in a flying wing aircraft anytime soon. Modern fly-by-wire controls, as with the B-2 Spirit bomber, have made flying wings practical. And latter-day designs have been proposed. But studies have shown that the general public wouldn't be comfortable flying in something so radical.
Here's something interesting from Google patent search - US Patent 2,650,780 - the passenger version of Jack Northrup's "Flying Wing".
Of course, by the time this patent was granted, it was moot, as instability problems with the YB-49 doomed the flying wing. (But note that the illustrated design is for a prop-drive craft, like the earlier YB-35.)
We are still unlikely to be transported in a flying wing aircraft anytime soon. Modern fly-by-wire controls, as with the B-2 Spirit bomber, have made flying wings practical. And latter-day designs have been proposed. But studies have shown that the general public wouldn't be comfortable flying in something so radical.
Comments:
Post a Comment
