Northrop X 4 Bantam Pilot S Flight Operating Instructions

Designed without horizontal stabilizers, the X-4 Bantam had a semi-tailless design that bore some resemblance to Germany¿s Me-163 rocket plane. The small, twin-jet craft relied on combined elevator and aileron surfaces ¿ known as elevons ¿ for pitch and roll control. The role of the X-4 was to explore the transonic speed zone, and to determine whether the design would lessen the stability and control problems affiliated with compressibility. Although two Bantams were built, only one proved mechanically sound. The second was flown over eighty times by Northrop, Air Force and NACA pilots. They learned that the X-4 was sensitive in pitch, and showed a tendency to ¿hunt¿ about all three axes as it approached Mach 1.0. Thus, the X-4¿s design proved a failure. Originally printed by Northrop, NACA and the USAF, this handbook provides a fascinating glimpse inside the cockpit of this experimental plane. The manual was recently declassified and is here reprinted in book form.

Northrop¿s T-38 Talon was the world¿s first supersonic trainer aircraft, and remains in service today in air forces worldwide. It entered service in 1961, and quickly set climb records, earning it the nickname ¿white rocket¿. Nearly 1200 Talons were produced before the last one rolled off the assembly line in 1972. Capable of a speed of Mach 1.3, and a climb rate approaching 34,000 feet per minute, the T-38¿s performance was sufficient to warrant service as the USAF Thunderbirds¿ aircraft in the mid-1970s. Its primary role however, was as a dedicated training and proficiency platform. More than 50,000 USAF, NASA and NATO pilots have flown the Talon, a record that may never be matched. Originally printed by the U.S. Air Force and Northrop, this handbook for the T-38 provides a fascinating glimpse inside the cockpit of this famous aircraft. Originally classified ¿restricted¿, the manual was recently declassified and is here reprinted in book form.

Flown by the American Volunteer Group in China known as the "Flying Tigers," the P-40 Warhawk earned a reputation for its toughness in combat. Facing odds of 6 to 1 in most combat situations, AVG pilots relied on their skill, daring and their aircraft's superior diving speed to achieve victory. By war's end the Tigers had destroyed more than 1200 Japanese planes, with another 700 listed as probables. Their own losses came to 573 aircraft. Originally printed by the U.S. Army Air Force for pilots transitioning to the P-40, this flight manual contains detailed information about one of history's great planes. Originally classified as "restricted," the manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. Some color images appear in black and white, and some pages have been slightly reformatted. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.

he F-89 Scorpion was the first multi-seat, all-weather jet interceptor in the U.S. Air Force. It also became the first aircraft ever equipped with a nuclear air-to-air weapon ¿ the 1.5 kiloton Genie missile. The F-89 made its debut in 1948, joined the Air Force in 1950, and then served as the mainstay of Air Defense Command for 17 years. Over 1,000 F-89s were produced, including 350 of the ¿J¿ model equipped with pylons to carry the Genie. (One F-89 did fire the missile as part of Operation Plumbob in 1957.) Originally printed by Northrop and the USAF, this F-89 Flight Operating Manual taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Classified ¿Restricted¿, the manual was recently declassified and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted and color images appear in black and white. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.

Visionary designer Jack Northrop built a series of experimental "flying wing" aircraft both before and during WWII. One of the most radical designs of the post-war era, the propeller-driven YB-35 bomber's all-wing design minimized drag and promised maximum payload capacity and terrific endurance. The YB-49, a turbojet powered variant built on the YB-35 airframe, forever altered aviation history and inspired the design of the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber. Originally printed by Northrop Aircraft in 1948, the YB-49 Flying Wing Pilot's Flight Operating Manual taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Originally classified "Restricted," the manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted, and color images appear as black and white. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.

North American Aviation's X-15 rocket plane flew at Mach 6.72 and at altitudes above 67 miles -- at the threshold of space. The men who piloted this amazing plane became the USAF's first astronauts. Powered by an XLR-99 engine capable of producing 70,000 pounds of thrust at peak altitude, the X-15 pushed the flight envelope for manned aircraft past the post office. Notably, both Apollo astronaut Neil Armstrong and Space Shuttle commander Joe Engle piloted the X-15. Originally published by North American for the USAF and later NASA, this Flight Operating Handbook represents a 1963 update of the original version first printed in 1961. Just recently declassified, it provides a revealing look into one of history's great planes. Also included in this edition is a rare X-15 rescue manual made for the plane's ground crew. Please note: due to the archival nature of some portions of the original documents, image and text quality may vary. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.

The heavily armed P-61 Black Widow was the U.S. Army Air Force's first dedicated night fighter. Equipped with radar, four .50 caliber machine guns and four 20mm. cannons, the Widow was a fearsome adversary. It flew as both an intruder and interceptor in Europe and the Pacific. Originally printed by Northrop in 1945, the YP-61 Pilot's Flight Operating Manual taught pilots everything they needed to know before entering the cockpit. Originally classified "Restricted," the manual was declassified long ago and is here reprinted in book form. This affordable facsimile has been reformatted, and color images appear as black and white. Care has been taken however to preserve the integrity of the text.

An improvement over the Bell X-1 - the first plane to break the sound barrier in level flight - the X-1A was designed to reach Mach 2.0. Initial test flights commenced in January of 1953. On December 12th, test pilot Charles "Chuck" Yeager set a record with the aircraft, reaching a speed of Mach 2.43 at 75,000 feet. In 1954, pilot Maj. Arthur Murray flew the plane to a new altitude record of 90,440 feet. Roughly a year later, the X-1A was severely damaged by an explosion while strapped to its B-29 mother ship. The plane was jettisoned and destroyed. Variants of the design, including the X-1B, X-1D, and X-1E continued to fly as late as 1958. Originally printed by the U.S. Air Force and NACA / NASA, this handbook provides a fascinating glimpse inside the cockpit of one of history's great planes. Classified "Restricted", the manual was declassified. This affordable facsimile has been slightly reformatted. Care has been taken to preserve the integrity of the text.