We have recently found the NEWLY RESTORED documentary that was produced in 1949 for the unveiling of the YB-49. Nearly a half-hour long, this is the fascinating story of the world’s first “stealth” aircraft before stealth was an aviation term. The story of this magnificent aircraft ends in an achingly similar fashion to Northrop’s other technology marvel, the YF-23. Both were never allowed to come to full power. But in fact the YB-49 was actually executed–burned up on the Hawthorne airport runway by military order!
