Northrop Nuclear-Powered Flying Wing Bomber Concept (1956)

Scale: 1/144
Initial Release: 2007
Medium: Resin
Width: 13 inches
Kit Rarity: 4

About the Design

During the early Cold War, the U.S. Air Force flirted seriously with the idea of producing long-range strategic bombers powered by atomic energy.  The main advantage of such a weapon would be its ability to stay aloft for weeks at a time, thus serving as the aerial counterpart to the Navy's fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Jack Northrop, America's number-one proponent of "flying wing" aircraft, proposed several configurations for such an atomic-powered bomber.  The most exotic of these was an asymmetrical design that positioned the cockpit at the end of the port wing.  (German engineers had proved that asymmetrical designs were  completely airworthy more than a decade before.) This configuration, while highly unconventional, had the advantage of putting the flight crew as far away from the nuclear reactor as possible while minimizing weight. 

None of Northrop's concepts got farther than the concept stage.

About the Kit

Mastered by Scott Lowther, this was the first Fantastic Plastic kit cast by Acme Design, Inc. of Elgin, Illinois.  Another "table top" model, it was molded with landing gear in the "wheels up" position.

This model was built from an original issue.