XB-35
Overview
A flying-wing heavy bomber from the 1940s.
Jack Northrop designed the full-scale XB-35, one of the first attempts at an all-wing heavy bomber. It was powered by four Pratt & Whitney R-4360 turbo-supercharged radial engines that turned three- and four-blade propellers, including contra-rotating types.
Model
Clark Calkins designed this 64.5-inch-wingspan model. Construction uses built-up balsa, light plywood, and a symmetrical-airfoil wing that is joined in the middle.
Power and components:
- Four Silver Streak brushed motors
- Seven-cell, 1500 mAh Ni-Cd battery
Performance and handling
- Published flying weight: 46 ounces; the model can be flown lighter and more efficiently using modern power systems and Li-Poly (LiPo) batteries.
- Stable and easy to control when properly trimmed for the correct center of gravity (CG).
- The symmetrical airfoil and virtually no dihedral mean the aircraft must be actively flown; it will not self-correct.
- Landing gear performs best on hard surfaces.
- Good ground-handling characteristics; easy to land, with a tendency to float.
Publication and plans
This design was featured in a construction article published in the July 1996 issue of Model Aviation (MA). AMA members can access the magazine’s digital archives on the Academy’s website.
The XB-35 is AMA Plans Service listing 814E and is available for $30 plus shipping and handling. See page 167 of the cited issue or go to www.modelaircraft.org/plans.aspx for ordering information.
Transcribed from original scans by AI. Minor OCR errors may remain.
