Northrop Grumman's Flying Wings

For more than seventy years, Northrop Grumman’s flying wings have stood at the intersection of aerodynamic daring, stealth innovation, and strategic power. From Jack Northrop’s visionary sketches in the 1930s to the first operational stealth bombers and the unveiling of the B-21 Raider, the flying wing story is one of persistence against engineering challenges, shifting military priorities, and intense political headwinds.

This book tells that story in full, drawing on verified facts to chronicle the N-1M experiments, the ambitious YB-35 and YB-49 prototypes, and the decades-long research that led to the B-2 Spirit’s debut at the twilight of the Cold War. It follows the flying wing into combat, through precision strikes across the globe, and into the design halls where the B-21 Raider is preparing to take flight.

Through detailed narrative, it reveals not just the aircraft, but the industrial effort, strategic thinking, and enduring aerodynamic truths that keep the flying wing relevant in the 21st century. From secretive wind tunnel tests to global operational missions, this is the definitive history of Northrop Grumman’s most iconic design.