Northrop JB-1 Bat
Jack Northrop was fascinated by the idea of flying wings, and undertook a large number of projects dedicated to the idea. Though none of them panned out--he was decades ahead of his time--Northrop, throughout World War II, continued to work on the design. Project MX-334 was a USAAF requirement to develop a small, rocket powered interceptor, and Northrop had been awarded the contract. To test the idea, Northrop first built the MX-334 as a glider, and it was flown successfully as such in November 1943. The first rocket flight was conducted in July 1944, but by that time, the USAAF had other ideas for the MX-334.
The USAAF was aware of the existence of the V-1 cruise missile for some time, and after the Germans began launching them at London, a crash program was begun to develop the US' own cruise missile. Northrop was awarded this contract as well under Project MX-543, using MX-334 as the basis. The MX-334 was expanded and once more tested as a manned glider to check its aerodynamics in August 1944. By that point, it had been named the JB-1 Bat. The Bat flew well, so the project went forward.
That was when the Bat ran into issues: the propulsion was supposed to be two small turbojets, but when the JB-1 was first tested in December 1944, one engine promptly failed and the JB-1 crashed. The engines continually had issues, the JB-1 was found to be overweight, and Northrop was finding that it was too complex for what it was intended to do. The turbojets were dropped in favor of the Ford PJ31 pulsejet--a copy of the V-1's pulsejet propulsion. The JB-1 was falling behind the Republic-Ford JB-2 Loon, which itself was a slightly improved V-1.
Testing of the reengined JB-1 began in April 1945, but it continued to run into issues: only two out of ten flights were remotely successful. With the war ending and the JB-1 now eight times more expensive than the JB-2, the project was finally cancelled in 1946.
The only remaining relic of the JB-1 program was the manned glider, and in 1950, it was donated to the Northrop Aeronautical Institute. It remained there until 1984, when the JB-1 was donated to the Southern California Historical Aviation Foundation, and eventually to the Western Museum of Flight, when it was restored to its 1944 appearance.
This was an unexpected find at the WMOF, and an aircraft that I had no idea existed. The museum did an excellent job of restoration. I visited in June 2023.
Northrop JB-1 Bat
Jack Northrop was fascinated by the idea of flying wings, and undertook a large number of projects dedicated to the idea. Though none of them panned out--he was decades ahead of his time--Northrop, throughout World War II, continued to work on the design. Project MX-334 was a USAAF requirement to develop a small, rocket powered interceptor, and Northrop had been awarded the contract. To test the idea, Northrop first built the MX-334 as a glider, and it was flown successfully as such in November 1943. The first rocket flight was conducted in July 1944, but by that time, the USAAF had other ideas for the MX-334.
The USAAF was aware of the existence of the V-1 cruise missile for some time, and after the Germans began launching them at London, a crash program was begun to develop the US' own cruise missile. Northrop was awarded this contract as well under Project MX-543, using MX-334 as the basis. The MX-334 was expanded and once more tested as a manned glider to check its aerodynamics in August 1944. By that point, it had been named the JB-1 Bat. The Bat flew well, so the project went forward.
That was when the Bat ran into issues: the propulsion was supposed to be two small turbojets, but when the JB-1 was first tested in December 1944, one engine promptly failed and the JB-1 crashed. The engines continually had issues, the JB-1 was found to be overweight, and Northrop was finding that it was too complex for what it was intended to do. The turbojets were dropped in favor of the Ford PJ31 pulsejet--a copy of the V-1's pulsejet propulsion. The JB-1 was falling behind the Republic-Ford JB-2 Loon, which itself was a slightly improved V-1.
Testing of the reengined JB-1 began in April 1945, but it continued to run into issues: only two out of ten flights were remotely successful. With the war ending and the JB-1 now eight times more expensive than the JB-2, the project was finally cancelled in 1946.
The only remaining relic of the JB-1 program was the manned glider, and in 1950, it was donated to the Northrop Aeronautical Institute. It remained there until 1984, when the JB-1 was donated to the Southern California Historical Aviation Foundation, and eventually to the Western Museum of Flight, when it was restored to its 1944 appearance.
This was an unexpected find at the WMOF, and an aircraft that I had no idea existed. The museum did an excellent job of restoration. I visited in June 2023.