Turbodyne XT-37 for the EB-35B Flying Wing

[Lord Vader]

Does anyone have information (hopefully including illustrations) of the XT-37 Turbodyne that was developed by the Northrop-Hendy Company. It was proposed that this engine would power the EB-35B derivative of the B-35 flying wing. Northrop Flying Wings by Garry R. Pape and John M. Campbell has some basic information. Most internet sources mention it in passing, but with little detail. Anything else out there?

 

[Grey Havoc]

Did you already see the (short) topic on it over at the Aircraft of World War II - Warbird Forums?

http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/engines/xt-37-turbodyne-28346.html

EDIT: An additional photo here: http://sobchak.wordpress.com/2009/09/20/eb-35b-xt-37/
(Scroll down) Note: This site is in Italian.

EDIT2: A little bit more info, although the blog entry focuses on the XB-35 in general.
http://kr.blog.yahoo.com/shinecommerce/17247
Note: This site is mostly in Korean.

 

[Lord Vader]

Thank you, Grey Havoc;

Two of these photographs are new to me. I appreciate the help.

 

[Vahe Demirjian]

The T37 turboprop is also discussed at this thread:

https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/northrop-hendy-xt37-turbodyne.11234/

 

[kmccut]

Does anyone have information (hopefully including illustrations) of the XT-37 Turbodyne that was developed by the Northrop-Hendy Company. It was proposed that this engine would power the EB-35B derivative of the B-35 flying wing. Northrop Flying Wings by Garry R. Pape and John M. Campbell has some basic information. Most internet sources mention it in passing, but with little detail. Anything else out there?

I have recently published a long article about the Northrop Turbodyne and its development. Few new images but a lot of new information. Please see
https://www.enginehistory.org/GasTurbines/EarlyGT/XT37/XT37(01).shtml

 

[Basil]

I have recently published a long article about the Northrop Turbodyne and its development. Few new images but a lot of new information. Please see
https://www.enginehistory.org/GasTurbines/EarlyGT/XT37/XT37(01).shtml

Great, thanks a lot!

 

[Basil]

I have recently published a long article about the Northrop Turbodyne and its development. Few new images but a lot of new information. Please see
https://www.enginehistory.org/GasTurbines/EarlyGT/XT37/XT37(01).shtml

Kmccut,
Tony Chong mentions in his book "Flying Wings" the intended installation of supersonic propellers on the XT37. Do you have any information about this configuration or about the propellers?

 

[kmccut]

Tony Chong mentions in his book "Flying Wings" the intended installation of supersonic propellers on the XT37. Do you have any information about this configuration or about the propellers?

There was no mention of supersonic propellers in the material I examined. Near the end of the article is a table labeled XT37 Propeller Candidates, which is the only real propeller data I encountered. Note that these propeller models were intended for testing, which is unrelated to plans the airframers had for installation. Also, the discussion was between the Materiel Center Propeller/Power Plant Laboratories and those doing the engine development.

 

[Scott Kenny]

Kmccut,
Tony Chong mentions in his book "Flying Wings" the intended installation of supersonic propellers on the XT37. Do you have any information about this configuration or about the propellers?

After the nightmare of the XF-84H Thunderscreech, I doubt that any supersonic props were planned, especially not in a multiple engine installation!

 

[Nik]

IIRC, there was a cruel joke about the Rus 'Bears': They were so effin' LOUD that, even if they suddenly became invisible to fighter radar, you could take them down with acoustic homers...

 

[Basil]

After the nightmare of the XF-84H Thunderscreech, I doubt that any supersonic props were planned, especially not in a multiple engine installation!

During the early 1950s there were several projects with supersonic propellers, from Convair's B-36 concepts with its sixbladed two row single-rotation props (ok, transsonic tips) to several B-47 variants (with Allisons and Pratt & Whitneys) and from Curtiss to Lockheed and Northrop. If the propeller profile is designed correctly, even at an airspeed of approx. Mach 1 a propeller efficiency of 78 - 79 % can be obtained. The main source of problems with XF-84H was obviously the gearbox.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19930090296/downloads/19930090296.pdf

 

[Basil]

IIRC, there was a cruel joke about the Rus 'Bears': They were so effin' LOUD that, even if they suddenly became invisible to fighter radar, you could take them down with acoustic homers...

I'm not sure if the Bears are really as loud as they like to claim. As mentioned here for example ( https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/threads/republic-xp-72.17082/page-2#post-629618 ), during cruise the prop tips of the NK 12 are well below Mach 1. Nevertheless, they undoubtedly produce an interesting sound frequency.

 

[Scott Kenny]

During the early 1950s there were several projects with supersonic propellers, from Convair's B-36 concepts with its sixbladed two row single-rotation props (ok, transsonic tips) to several B-47 variants (with Allisons and Pratt & Whitneys) and from Curtiss to Lockheed and Northrop. If the propeller profile is designed correctly, even at an airspeed of approx. Mach 1 a propeller efficiency of 78 - 79 % can be obtained. The main source of problems with XF-84H was obviously the gearbox.

https://ntrs.nasa.gov/api/citations/19930090296/downloads/19930090296.pdf

It's not the efficiency, it's the shockwaves.

 

[Basil]

Although sound shock waves can be an issue with regard to the aircraft structure, they are obviously not an insurmountable problem. The Tu 95 has been flying for decades with its 32 transonic blade tips; on the civil GE36 propfan the tips of the second propeller plane ran in the low supersonic range during cruise.