Northrop “Buzz-Bomb” Experimental Flying Wing Glider – Public Relations Photograph

Original Northrop Aircraft, Inc. Public Relations photograph, issued from Hawthorne, California, with detailed press release caption on verso. The image shows an experimental Northrop-built glider, sometimes referred to as the “Buzz-Bomb” test glider. Measuring less than 30 feet in span, the aircraft was designed to evaluate the efficiency of the flying wing concept for use in jet-propelled bombs.

The press release explains that by eliminating the fuselage and incorporating only a small vertical stabilizer, the glider served as a proof-of-concept for the aerodynamic efficiency that characterized later Northrop flying wing designs. After being towed aloft, it demonstrated excellent flight characteristics, even performing slow rolls in free flight. Test pilot evaluations confirmed its superiority to conventional types.

This glider was subsequently used as a training tool for students at Northrop Aeronautical Institute, the company’s advanced school for aeronautics. The photograph and caption together document the experimental lineage of Northrop’s flying wing projects and the company’s exploration of innovative military and training applications in the mid-20th century.