CoolPix Triple Play: Douglas XB-43 And YB-43 Jetmaster
Monday, November 7, 2011 at 08:03AM 
(click pic for hi-res) Douglas YB-43 Jetmaster in storage at the Air Force Museum
(watch for another AirPigz Air Force Museum meetup coming in 2012)
I'm fascinated by 'unusual' thinking, especially as it relates to aircraft design. Last January when I had an AirPigz meetup at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force (Air Force Museum) in Dayton, Ohio, I made the extra effort to take the behind-the-scenes tour in the museum's restoration facilities (note: it's free, space is limited, reservations are required, and they only run on Fridays.) Wow, what an amazing experience it was. I'm just now geting around to sharing some of what I saw there... and one aircraft that really caught my eye was the Douglas YB-43 Jetmaster seen here.
The first thing that made me realize I wanted to know more about this thing was seeing the unusual twin canopies incorporated into the design. It looked sorta bug-like while also having a very cool sci-fi kind of feel. Pretty sweet when you realize that this airplane was our first ever jet powered bomber concept to fly, and that first flight took place in May 1946, less than a year after World War II had ended. You've probably never heard of the airplane because as it turned out, it wasn't a great success design wise, and it never went into production. However, it's just full of interesting stories. For example, it's actually an outgrowth of the XB-42 Mixmaster, a similar airframe that was powered by two Allison V-12 engines and driving rear mounted counter-rotating props! The Air Force Museum also has that aircraft awaiting restoration. In fact it's sitting right next to the Jetmaster... you can see one of the main gear tires in these pix. Hopefully I'll have an in depth post on this amazing concept before long.
(click pic for hi-res) The YB-43 Jetmaster (named Versatile II) awaiting restoration
When jet engine technology proved it was the way of the future, Douglas was given the opportunity to redesign the Mixmaster with two General Electric J35 turbojets. Even tho the Jetmaster did get built and was flown with these jet engines, a variety of complications kept the two test aircraft (one XB-43 and one YB-43) from being being truly successful. This was however, our first jet powered bomber concept to fly. It also served as a testbed for the follow on engine from GE, the J47, of which 36,500 were eventually built and used in aircraft like the B-47 and the F-86.
The YB-43, the only surviving Jetmaster, was given to the Smithsonian Institution in 1954, but it remained in storage until late last year when it was moved the the Air Force Museum. In fact, it would seem that it was a relatively recent addition to the massive collection in the restoration facilities when I saw it in January of 2011. As with many of the projects at the museum, it may be a while before the resources are in place to restore the aircraft. But I sure hope they can get to it... this is an aircraft with an interesting story to tell.
(click pic for hi-res) The unusual prototype XB-43 Jetmaster just after takeoff
Reader Comments (6)
Great post, Martt. Are you planning on another 'pig-out' at the USAFM next year ?
Looking at the first photo of the XB-43... I'm wondering what the airplane is in the background with the camo pattern and sharks teeth?
seerjfly- I think I probably will try another meetup at the museum... watch for some details in December for a January date.
Mark Chouinard- I don't have any clear pix of it, but I do have one that shows it from another view way off in the background. I'm trying to see if I can figure it out for ya : )
Mark Chouinard- I found it! It's a Fairchild PT-26, the enclosed cockpit version of the PT-19. You can see a pic of it here: PT-26 Air Force Museum
Thanx for the cool challenge : )
It's midsection resembles a B-25 and the wings & rudder look like the Douglas A-26.
"Cool Pix" not so "cool" "pix"