The XP-56, Northrop Model N2B, was another radical design resulting from the Army Air Corps R-40C proposal. The "Black Bullet," an all-magnesium aircraft, was first flown on Sept. 30, 1943, but was destroyed during a taxi test. The second prototype was first flown on March 23, 1944, and had a bigger vertical stabilizer and an improved wingtip design incorporating a yaw control system. Like the XP-54 and XP-55, XP-56 flight tests revealed no significant performance improvement over conventional types already flying and the aircraft never entered production.
Type
Number built/
converted
Remarks
XP-56
2
Pusher-type flying wing
TECHNICAL NOTES (second prototype): Armament: Designed for four .50-cal. machine guns and two 20mm cannon Engine:Pratt & Whitney R-2800-29 of 2,000 hp Maximum speed: 465 mph at 19,300 ft. (est.) Service ceiling: 33,000 ft. (est.) Span: 42 ft. 6 in. Length: 27 ft. 6 in. Height: 11 ft. 0 in. Weight: 8,700 lbs. empty/11,350 lbs. gross
