National Air and Space Museum Archives

Northrop RB-49A and FB-49A Drawings

Summary

Collection ID:
NASM.1995.0069
Creators:
Northrop Corp
Dates:
bulk 1948
Languages:
English
.
Physical Description:
0.05 Cubic feet
(1 folder)
Repository:

Scope and Contents

Scope and Contents
This collection consists of ten 22.5 by 11 inch drawings from Northrop Aircraft, Inc. Included here are eight drawings of the RB-49A and two drawings of the FB-49A.

Biographical / Historical

Biographical / Historical
In March 1948, a proposal was made to the United States Air Force by Northrop Aircraft, Inc. for a photographic reconnaissance version of the "flying wing." This proposed aircraft was referred to as the RB-49A and the FB-49A, and officially known as the Northrop YRB-49A. This proposal grew out of the failed XB-35 program, and the USAF desperately hoped for the success of this aircraft. However, shortly after an agreement was made in August 1948, the project was abandoned. Disagreements and indecision led to a rocky beginning and only preliminary plans for this aircraft were completed. Once the RB-49A project was abandoned, Northrop focused their efforts on the YRB-49A as a conversion of the YB-35A.

Administration

Immediate Source of Acquisition
John Keen Miller, Gift, 1995

Using the Collection

Conditions Governing Access
No restrictions on access.
Preferred Citation
Northrop RB-49A and FB-49A Drawings, Accession number 1995-0069, National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution.
Conditions Governing Use
Material is subject to Smithsonian Terms of Use. Should you wish to use NASM material in any medium, please submit an Application for Permission to Reproduce NASM Material, available at Permissions Requests

Keywords

Keywords table of terms and types.
Keyword Terms Keyword Types
Northrop RB-49A Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Northrop FB-49A Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Aeronautics, Military Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Photographic reconnaissance systems Topical Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid
Drawings Genre Form Search Smithsonian Collections Search ArchiveGrid

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