Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet
Northrop · United States · first flew 1943 · fighter
The Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet was an American experimental tailless fighter interceptor powered by a pusher engine, representing Jack Northrop's exploration of flying-wing fighter concepts during World War II.
Recognition (WEFT)
| W — Wings | Mid-mounted, tapered |
|---|---|
| E — Engines | 1 × piston, fuselage-mounted |
| F — Fuselage | Very short fuselage blending into broad wing |
| T — Tail | No tailplane |
WEFT is AircraftIQ's four-point recognition method — how it works.
Spot it by:
- Tailless flying-wing pusher fighter with no conventional tail
- Buried pusher engine with contra-rotating propellers at the rear
- Very short fuselage blending into broad wing
Immediately recognisable as a tailless pusher design with a very compact fuselage, broad tapered wings incorporating control surfaces, and no conventional empennage — one of the most unusual American fighter designs of WWII.
Specifications
- The Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet has a length of 8.38 m (27 ft).
- It has a wingspan of 12.96 m (43 ft).
- Its maximum speed is 749 km/h (465 mph).
- Typical crew: 1.
Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.
History
Two prototypes were built under a 1940 contract. The first was destroyed in a ground accident and the second flew from 1944 until 1944 before the programme was cancelled. Despite its radical design, stability and control difficulties were never fully resolved and the concept was not pursued further.
Variants
Two prototypes were built, the second incorporating lessons learned from the first's accident; no production variants were planned.
Where you'll see it
Never entered service; used only for experimental evaluation by the US Army Air Forces.
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